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What does it mean to be human?
What does it mean to be human? Dancing, music, love, sex, cooking, other people… You’ll have heard these answers. Many are problematic. EXPANDING THE QUESTION First, this question has various answers depending on context: As an example of number three: Being human means yearning for more than subsistence. As much as food or shelter, we require hope. […] During one…
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Definition of Logos in Literature
Logos is one of three main persuasive techniques as categorised by Aristotle alongside ethos and pathos.
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What is the meaning of simulacrum? Definition and examples
What is the meaning of simulacrum? What is the plural, and how is this word used metaphorically to illustrate ideas?
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Words from the Hit TV Show Succession
The writers of HBO’s TV series Succession do a great job of depicting a privileged, smart and well-travelled family, each despicable in their own way. Since the Roy family wealth comes from a media empire, main characters all have an excellent command of English (and sometimes other languages). Not only that, but each the dialogue of each character sounds distinctive.
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What is an aphorism in simple terms?
An aphorism is an original thought, spoken or written in a concise form, designed to be memorable. The aphorism is ‘the takeaway point’ of a story, article or speech. Aphorisms should be somewhat surprising: “Oh yeah, that’s true actually. I hadn’t thought of it like that. Ha.”
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The Meaning of “Urban Legend”
An urban legend is typically told as a true story. These stories are not true at all, but often have a factual basis. They may begin with a real incident, but they may entirely fictional. They share similarities with tall stories.
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What is tone in literature?
Tone: How someone expresses a feeling or attitude. In everyday interactions, we us speech and body language. Writers use different tricks.
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Theme in Literature: Definition
You’ve probably noticed that ‘theme’ in everyday English means something different from how people use the word when talking about literature.
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Psychopaths, Sociopaths, Narcissists in Fiction
Let’s take a look at psychopaths, sociopaths and narcissists in fiction, or rather: How people with malignant personality disorders dominate popular culture.
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What is the Symbolist movement in literature?
In Symbolist work, the author is aiming to hit the essence or ideal of something which lies behind objective matter and the realm of chance.
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What Makes Something Cute? Cute vs. Kawaii
‘Cute’ describes something attractive in a pleasing, nonthreatening way. Things that are small or young are often described as cute: babies, fluffy puppies with big eyes, squishy toys. Cute things are easy to like.
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What is a queer narrative?
The word queer meaning LGBTQIA+ was first a slur, then reclaimed, then it got hijacked in the 1990s. (Some) people stopped using it. Now it’s back. Again. But because gender, romantic and sexual minorities continue to experience bigotry, the words used to describe those identities will be under attack for as long as bigotry continues. This week’s misinformation campaign: That…
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The Definition Of Boondoggle
Boondoggle is a mimetic word which sounds funny to English speakers along with nonsense words such as thingamebob, thingamejig, shenanigans, dongle, lollapalooza, bamboozle… All of these words are inherently funny. Even without considering any meaning, they just sound funny. Linguists have studied what makes some words phonologically funnier than others. According to a 2015 study, funny words: Remind speakers of…
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Words that end in gry
If you’re reading this page you’ve probably been asked an old trick word puzzle. It started in New York in the mid 1970s. Trick Question: There are three common words in English that end in “gree”. The first two are “angry” and “hungry”. If you’ve listened closely, you’ll agree that I’ve already told you the third one. The Answer: “Agree”.…
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Favourite Words of Moira Rose
Moira Rose is the dramatic matriarch of the Rose family and a soap opera star, who takes an interest in civics after moving to Schitt’s Creek.
