10 Examples of Apostrophe

Apostrophe

The apostrophe is a Figure of speech in which he briefly breaks into a speech, dialogue or narrative, to invoke imaginary or real characters. With this resource you try to capture the attention of the receiver and convey a feeling, idea or thought.

For example:

Oh sad dark clouds
how hard you walk, get me out of these sadness
and take me to the honduras
from the sea where are you going!

(Gil Vicente, Rubena's comedy).

In general, the apostrophe uses the second person and, on some occasions, it consists of an "acclaim to nothingness." In addition, this figure is usually accompanied by exclamation marks or interrogation.

As the objective of this resource is to capture the attention of those who are exposed to the message, it is usually used in the speeches that are prepared to be transmitted orally, for example, the script of a play. It is also a widely used resource in poetry.

This literary figure was very recurrent in the plays of Ancient Greece, in which the characters pronounced the plays with their backs to the public.

Examples of apostrophe

1. Oh virtuous, magnificent war!
   In you the quarrels were due,
   in you do our dying lived
   for glory in heaven and fame on earth,
   in you do the cruel spear never errs
   nin is afraid of the blood of relatives;
   revokes concordes to you our people
   of such desires and so much desferra.

   (Juan de Mena, Labyrinth of Fortuna)

1. Oh night you led!
   Oh night, more lovely than the dawn!
   Oh night that you put together, Beloved with beloved,
   beloved into the Beloved transformed!

   (Saint John of the Cross, Dark night)

1. LifetimeWhat can i give you
   to my God who lives in me,
   if it's not losing you
   for the better for Him to enjoy?

   (Saint Teresa of Jesus, I live without living in my)

1. Later, Oh flower of Hysteria!, you cried and laughed;
   your kisses and your tears I had in my mouth;
   your laughs, your fragrances, your complaints were mine.

   (Ruben Dario, Daisy flower)

1. Come, gentle night, tender and gloomy night,
   give me my Romeo and when I die,
   cut it into a thousand tiny stars:
   the sky will look so beautiful
   that the world, in love with the night,
   will stop worshiping the stinging sun.

   (William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet).

1. Giant waves that you break roaring
   on deserted and remote beaches,
   wrapped in foam sheets,
   Take me with you!

   (Gustavo Adolfo Becquer, Rhyme LII).

1. And she appeared naked all ...
   Oh passion of my life, poetry
   naked, mine forever!

   (Juan Ramón Jiménez, Came, first, pure).

1. Oh sweet garments for my evil found,
   sweet and happy when God wanted,
   together you are in my memory
   and with her in my death conjured!

   (Garcilaso de la Vega, Sonnet X)