Purple prose is a term used to describe writing that is excessively flowery in its style. It is prose that draws attention to itself by its stylistic excesses to the extent that they get in the way of the meaning.
Purple prose is characterized by an overuse of verbose sentences, flowery vocabulary, and uncalled-for adjectives and adverbs. Occasionally an author might use purple prose for effect; it is generally seen as poor writing that should be avoided.
Purple prose exampleThis one long sentence from T. S. Eliot’s The Waste Land is an example of deliberate purple prose. Even though it isn’t strictly speaking prose, as it is a poem, the term is still appropriate. The purpose here is to provide an extreme contrast with the very plain, somewhat neurotic conversation that follows.
“The Chair she sat in, like a burnished throne,
Glowed on the marble, where the glass
Held up by standards wrought with fruited vines
From which a golden Cupidon peeped out
(Another hid his eyes behind his wing)
Doubled the flames of seven branched candelabra
Reflecting light upon the table as
The glitter of her jewels rose to meet it,
From satin cases poured in rich profusion;
In vials of ivory and coloured glass
Unstoppered, lurked her strange synthetic perfumes,
Unguent, powdered, or liquid—troubled, confused
And drowned the sense in odours; stirred by the air
That freshened from the window, these ascended
In fattening the prolonged candle-flames,
Flung their smoke into the laquearia,
Stirring the pattern on the coffered ceiling.”
Polysyndeton is a literary device that describes the repetition of conjunctions such as “and,” “or,” and “but,” even where they are not necessary for meaning. It is used to create rhythm or emphasis in a text and can add to a sense of purpose or urgency.
Polysyndeton in a text exampleIn the bed of the river there were pebbles and boulders, dry and white in the sun, and the water was clear and swiftly moving and blue in the channels. —A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
Invective is language that is abusive, insulting, or deeply critical. Although it’s found in everyday life, it is also identified as a literary device used in speeches and literary texts. Invective is used to attack, belittle, or frighten an adversary. In the following example from Macbeth, the beleaguered eponymous hero is berating a terrified servant for looking so pale and scared.
Invective in Macbeth exampleGo prick thy face, and over-red thy fear,
Thou lily-liver’d boy. What soldiers, patch?
Death of thy soul! those linen cheeks of thine
Are counsellors to fear. What soldiers, whey-face?
—Macbeth, Act V Scene iii
A neologism is a new word that has been introduced to express a new concept or slant on a topic. It can also be a new meaning to an already existing word. Neologism was itself, rather beautifully, a new word.
Neologism examplesWhen we talk about a new word being “coined” or “minted,” we are giving a new meaning to verbs used to describe the making of coins and applying it to words or phrases.
“Smart” is now used to describe devices and appliances with advanced technology and has led to several neologisms, such as smartphone, smartwatch, and smart socket.
When a writer or speaker poses a question and then answers it immediately, this is called hypophora. It is a useful technique for keeping the audience engaged, answering their questions before they are asked, and directing their thoughts in a particular direction.
It is quite common to find hypophora in speeches, advertising, and prose.
Hypophora examples
Context
Example
Speeches
What is that promise?
It’s a promise that says each of us has the freedom to make of our own lives what we will, but that we also have the obligation to treat each other with dignity and respect. —Barack Obama, August 28, 2008
Advertising
What’s the secret to a perfectly grilled steak? It’s all about the marinade. Our special blend of herbs and spices will leave your steak juicy, flavorful, and unforgettable.
Prose
Is it so bad, then, to be misunderstood? Pythagoras was misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther, and Copernicus, and Galileo, and Newton, and every pure and wise spirit that ever took flesh. To be great is to be misunderstood. —Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Self-Reliance”
Epistrophe is a literary device that involves the repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive lines or phrases. It is used to draw attention to the words, usually because they are of great significance in the text.
Epistrophe exampleIn his song “The Way I Am,” Eminem uses epistrophe to highlight the importance of the question of his identity:
“And I am whatever you say I am
If I wasn’t, then why would I say I am?
In the paper, the news, every day I am
(Ha) I don’t know, that’s just the way I am.”
Circumlocution means using more words than are necessary to communicate meaning. It is not intrinsically bad or good, depending on its purpose and effect. It can be used to help soften the blow of bad news, obscure the truth, or be evasive.
Circumlocution exampleThe British have a reputation for being very polite, and this often involves circumlocution. “I can’t say that I would be totally opposed to the idea” is a long way of saying “I’m not against it.”
Enthymeme describes an argument where one premise is assumed to be so obvious to the audience that it is implied rather than stated. Enthymemes make it much easier to form a logical argument, because it is not necessary to explain each premise.
Enthymeme examplesThe low voter turnout is a concern to everyone. [It is implied that high voter turnout is good.]
It’s a good idea on a long drive to take regular breaks. [It is implied that driving while tired is dangerous.]
There are lots of apps that will help you track and regulate your screen time. [It is implied that too much screen time is harmful.]
Anastrophe is a literary device, sometimes called “inversion,” where the word order in a sentence or phrase is reversed. It is done for emphasis, to maintain rhyme or meter in a poem, or for some other effect desired by the author.
Anastrophe examples“Stone Walls do not a Prison make,
Nor Iron bars a Cage” —“To Althea, from Prison” by Richard Lovelace
“Ask not what your country can do for you” —John F. Kennedy’s inauguration speech
“So here I go, it’s my shot; feet, fail me not” —“Lose Yourself” by Eminem
An allusion is commonly used in literature, cinema, music, and art. It is a reference to a person, place, or event that the speaker or writer assumes will be understood by their audience, with the effect that it adds a layer of meaning or insight to the text.
Allusion examplesMicawber-like, Eric assumed that the answer to his problems was just around the corner. [Mr. Micawber in Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield optimistically believes that “something will turn up” to solve his problems.]
Booking this late meant that it was Hobson’s choice for Julie when it came to flights. [Named after a livery stable owner who offered customers the horse nearest the door, or none.]
Winning the election was the governor’s Austerlitz and marked a new phase in local politics. [Napoleon won the battle of Austerlitz, and the battle is often seen as a brilliant and decisive victory.]
