Rhetorical exclamations and questions - an artistic tool that is often used by authors of various genres, enriching their works with emotions, ideas and meaning. Not a single person, being in their right mind and carried away by literature, will not dare to deny the importance of these paths. However, no matter how simple such a technique as the use of rhetorical exclamation may seem, it is not enough to be able to identify it in other people's works to correctly use it in one's own. It is important to understand why it is needed, what it can be expressed with, and what is not worth expressing.
General definition
Rhetorical exclamation is a means of artistic expression, based on the fact that to convey the culmination of the character’s feelings or passions within the framework of the described event through a sentence with an exclamation mark. This trail is also called exclamation from the English exclaim - "exclaim." Another term is "epekfonesis."
There are two main types of rhetorical exclamations:
- Aganactezis. Serves to express irritation or indignation.
- Kataploka. This is a kind of exclamation rate, which is not grammatically related to the rest of the sentence and, as it were, breaks it in half. It is somewhat similar to an introductory sentence, but it is not marked with commas, but with a dash or in brackets.
In fact, the functional of rhetorical exclamations is much wider, but their other types have not been classified. It cannot be said that insufficient attention was paid to the study of this trail. Rather, its capabilities are simply so broad and varied that it is not possible to classify them.
Why rhetorical exclamations?
Different authors have a different approach to the use of means of artistic expression. We can’t say that rhetorical exclamations have a list of strictly defined functions, because poets and writers are constantly finding more and more new ways to use the paths and surprise readers. However, over the many years of using this literary device in different styles and genres, it was possible to trace a certain pattern.
Here are the most common goals pursued by rhetorical exclamators:
- With the help of an exclamation, the author marks the highest point of the passions in the work. He focuses on what, in his opinion, is the most important, and thus expresses the most vivid, meaningful idea.
- Exclamations help strengthen the expressiveness of speech, make it more unusual and memorable. In a similar way, favorite words, parasitic words, and other elements of individuality expression are introduced into the character’s speech.
- The author’s attitude to what is happening is most often expressed precisely with the help of rhetorical exclamations.
- Through emotional cues, the author draws the attention of the reader.
- Thus, it is also possible to create an emphasis on the problem that arises in the work.
Of course, this is far from all that can be done with rhetorical exclamations. This is only an incomplete list of patterns revealed over several hundred years of development of world literature.
Examples
Rhetorical exclamations are widely used in Russian literature. Here are some examples:
"And again, the water was dying through,
and there is no doubt in anyone.
And suddenly, from somewhere - the devil knows him! -
the watery Revkom rises from the depths. "
(V.V. Mayakovsky, "Atlantic Ocean")
Two exclamations in one stanza at once:
"Poets, knights, ascetics,
A wise philologist with a pile of books ...
Suddenly behind the lamp - the glitter of the rocket!
The preacher is a joker!
And each one carried his bouquets
In our already big flower garden. "
(Marina Tsvetaeva, Perpetuum mobile)
Another striking example of an exclamation, which is, in fact, aganactezis:
"Death alone for two. Enough!
I'm sure it doesn't hurt.
You are sure of something else. "
(Anna Akhmatova, "One Death for Two. Enough")
Any reader can easily find many more examples of rhetorical exclamations, not only in poetry, but also in prose.
To summarize
This means of artistic expression is vivid and emotional. It is not difficult to find it in other people's works, but it can be difficult to use if you do not know why and do not take an example from professionals. However, it is this path that can become decisive in creating a work that is valuable from an artistic point of view.