Write down epithets. What is an epithet in literature? Examples, types of epithets

The term "epithet" comes from the ancient Greek word meaning "adjective", "application". This is an emotionally expressive, figurative characteristic of an event, person, phenomenon or object, expressed mainly by an adjective that has an allegorical meaning. After reading this article, you will learn what an epithet is in literature. We will tell you about its varieties and features of use. Examples of epithets from fiction will also be presented by us.

The meaning of epithets

Without them, our speech would be inexpressive and poor. After all, the perception of information simplifies figurative speech. It is not only possible to convey a message about a fact in one apt word, but also to describe the emotions that it evokes and its meaning.

Epithets may differ in the degree of expression of a certain characteristic and in the strength of conveyed emotions. For example, if we say “the water is cold,” we will only convey approximate information about its temperature. And if you use the phrase “icy water,” you can convey, along with basic information, emotions, sensations, associations with piercing, prickly cold.

Typically, an epithet in a sentence performs the syntactic function of definition. It can therefore be considered a figurative definition.

Epithets in artistic descriptions

Epithets are especially important in artistic descriptions, since they not only record the objective properties and phenomena of objects. The main goal is to express the author’s attitude towards what is depicted. Defining an epithet in literature is an important task for school students. This is one of the tasks included in the Unified State Exam. To better understand this topic, let's look at examples. Thus, in Tyutchev’s poem “There is in the primordial autumn” the following epithets are used: “wonderful time”, “radiant evenings”, “crystal day”, “cheerful sickle”, “fine hair of the cobweb”, “idle furrow”.

In it, seemingly objective, ordinary definitions, such as “thin hair”, “short season”, are epithets, since they convey the poet’s emotional perception of early autumn. They are accompanied by metaphorical, bright ones: “radiant evenings”, “crystal day”, “on an idle furrow”, “cheerful sickle”. This is what an epithet is in literature using the example of Tyutchev’s poem.

The difference between epithets and ordinary definitions

Various parts of speech can be epithets, but at the same time they must perform the functions of definitions in a sentence (participles, adjectives), circumstances of the manner of action (adverbs, adverbs) or be appendix nouns.

Unlike conventional definitions, epithets always express the individuality of their author. Finding a bright, successful figurative definition for a prose writer or poet means precisely determining your unique, inimitable view of a person, phenomenon, or object.

Constant epithets

In folk poetry alien to personal authorship, the so-called constant epithets are widespread: “clean field”, “black clouds”, “good horse”, “straight road”, “silk stirrup”, “blue sea”, “fair maiden”, “companion” “good”, etc. They indicate a typical feature of some object. Often, constant epithets do not take into account the situation in which they appear: a horse is not always “kind”, and the sea, for example, is not always “blue”. But for a storyteller or singer, semantic contradictions like these are not a hindrance.

In the works of various writers who relied on the traditions of folklore, various constant epithets are certainly used. For example, a lot of them can be found in the poems “Who Lives Well in Rus'” by N. A. Nekrasov and “Song about the Merchant Kalashnikov” by M. Yu. Lermontov, as well as in Yesenin’s poems. Lermontov is especially consistent in the use of constant epithets.

They are present in almost every line of his poem: above the “golden-domed”, “great” Moscow, the “white-stone” Kremlin wall, “behind the blue mountains”, “behind the distant forests”, “gray clouds”, “dawn scarlet" and others. All these figurative definitions were taken by Mikhail Yuryevich from the dictionary of folk poetry.

Commonly used and author's epithets

In addition, epithets are divided into commonly used ones, familiar and understandable to everyone, and author’s ones (unique ones, which are usually found among different writers). An example of a commonly used one is almost any descriptive definition taken from everyday life: “a boring book,” “a dress of cheerful colors,” etc. We will find author’s definitions in fiction, most of them in poetry. V. Khlebnikov, for example, has the “fiery sail of the tail” of a fox. V. Mayakovsky has the “thousand-eyed trust”.

Examples of epithets from fiction

Emotional epithets and other means of expression are used in literature much more widely and more often than in everyday speech. After all, it is important for poets and writers to stimulate the empathy of readers and listeners. This is one of the components necessary for co-creation. This, of course, is the creation and then reading by the reader of any talented work of art. Epithets are often used not only in poetry, but also in prose.

Examples from literature can be given by opening the novel “Fathers and Sons.”

The following epithets are found in it (at the end of the work): “dry leaf”, “sad and dead”, “cheerful and alive”, heart “rebellious”, “sinful”, “passionate”, “look serenely”, “eternal peace” , “great tranquility”, “indifferent nature”, “eternal reconciliation”.

Poetry shows us many examples of how various epithets set the tone of a story and create a mood. They are used more often than all other tropes. For example, in the poem “The Forest King” by Zhukovsky: “pearl streams”, “turquoise flowers”, “cast from gold” and other epithets. Examples from literature presented in the works of A. A. Fet: “golden and clear” evening, “all-victorious spring”, “my beautiful friend”, about “timid and poor” love. For A. Akhmatova: the taste is “bitter and intoxicating”, peace “lasts many weeks”.

Epithets are part of a complex syntactic structure

In prose and poetry, the role of epithets can be realized in the following way: when they are part of some complex syntactic structure. The whole thing should also not only convey the author’s idea to the reader, but also enrich it emotionally. For example, in the work “The Master and Margarita” by Bulgakov, the writer, depicting how the procurator Pontius Pilate leaves Herod’s palace, strings epithets on each other, setting the rhythm of this segment of the text. At the same time, he uses figurative definitions that not only describe gait and color, but also convey information behind the text. Symbolically bloody, and not just the red lining of the cloak. And the epithets used to describe the gait indicate the past of its owner, the fact that today he has retained the bearing of a military man. Others are descriptions of the circumstances of time and place.

Other examples can be given from various episodes of this work.

Territorial features of epithets

We found out what an epithet is in literature. Let us now note some features of this means of expression. Culturally and historically, epithets have undergone changes over time. They were also influenced by the geography of the people who created them. The conditions in which we live, the experiences we receive throughout our lives - all this influences the feelings and meanings encoded in images of speech.

For example, it is widely known that residents of the Far North have dozens of epithets to define the word “white.” The peoples of tropical islands are unlikely to be able to come up with one or two.

Or black color, having in different cultures diametrically opposite meaning. So, it symbolizes grief and mourning in Europe, and joy in Japan. Therefore, Europeans traditionally wear black clothes for funerals, and the Japanese - for weddings. The role of epithets used in the speech of Japanese and Europeans is changing accordingly.

Evolution

It is also curious that in the early stages of the development of folklore and literature, figurative definitions did not so much express various emotions, but literally described objects and phenomena from the point of view of key features and physical properties. There were also epic exaggerations. Enemy armies in Russian epics, for example, are always “countless”, monsters are “filthy”, forests are “dense”, and when describing heroes, such an epithet from fiction and folklore as “good fellows” is certainly used.

Epithets change with the development of literature, and their role in works also changes. As a result of evolution, they became more complex semantically and structurally. Particularly interesting examples are found in postmodern prose and poetry of the Silver Age.

So, we talked about what an epithet means in literature. Examples from poetry and prose were presented. We hope the meaning of the word “epithet” in literature is now clear to you.

• An epithet (from ancient Greek ἐπίθετον - “attached”) is a definition of a word that affects its expressiveness and beauty of pronunciation. It is expressed mainly by an adjective, but also by an adverb (“to love dearly”), a noun (“fun noise”), and a numeral (“second life”).

  Without having a definite position in the theory of literature, the name “epithet” is applied approximately to those phenomena that are called a definition in syntax, and an adjective in etymology; but the coincidence is only partial.

  There is no established view of the epithet in literary theory: some attribute it to figures of speech, others believe, along with figures and tropes, independent means poetic imagery; Some consider the epithet to be an element of exclusively poetic speech, others find it in prose as well.

  Alexander Veselovsky described several moments in the history of the epithet, which, however, is only an artificially isolated fragment of the general history of the style.

  Literary theory deals only with the so-called decorative epithet (epitheton ornans). This name originates from the old theory, which saw in the techniques of poetic thinking a means for decorating poetic speech, however, only the phenomena designated by this name represent a category distinguished by the theory of literature in the term “epithet.”

  Just as not every epithet has the form of a grammatical definition, so not every grammatical definition is an epithet: a definition that narrows the scope of the concept being defined is not an epithet.

  Logic distinguishes between synthetic judgments - those in which the predicate names a feature that is not contained in the subject (this mountain is high) and analytical - those in which the predicate only reveals a feature that is already present in the subject (people are mortal).

  Transferring this difference to grammatical definitions, we can say that the name of the epithet is only analytical definitions: “scattered storm”, “raspberry beret” are not epithets, but “ clear azure“,” “long spear,” “Scrupulous London” are epithets, because clarity is a constant sign of azure, scrupulousness is a sign obtained from the analysis of the poet’s idea of ​​London.

  An epithet - the beginning of the decomposition of a fused complex of ideas - highlights a feature already given in the word being defined, since this is necessary for consciousness that understands phenomena; the feature he highlights may seem insignificant, random, but it is not like that for the author’s creative thought.

  The epic constantly calls the saddle Cherkassy, ​​not in order to distinguish this saddle from others, not Cherkassy, ​​but because it is the saddle of a hero, the best that a people-poet can imagine: this is not a simple definition, but a method of stylistic idealization. Like other techniques - conventional phrases, typical formulas - the epithet in ancient songwriting easily became constant, invariably repeated with a well-known word (white hands, red maiden) and so closely attached to it that even contradictions and absurdities do not overcome this constancy (“ white hands" end up with the "Arapin", Tsar Kalin is a "dog" not only in the mouths of his enemies, but also in the speech of his ambassador to Prince Vladimir).

  This “oblivion of real meaning,” in the terminology of A. N. Veselovsky, is already a secondary phenomenon, but the very appearance of a constant epithet cannot be considered primary: its constancy, which is usually considered a sign of epic, epic worldview, is the result of selection after some diversity.

  It is possible that in the era of the most ancient (syncretistic, lyric-epic) song creativity this constancy did not yet exist: “only later did it become a sign of that typically conventional - and class - worldview and style, which we consider, somewhat one-sidedly, to be characteristic of epic and folk poetry."

  Epithets can be expressed by different parts of speech (Mother Volga, wind-tramp, bright eyes, damp earth). Epithets are a very common concept in literature; without them it is difficult to imagine a work of art.

Speech modern man becomes increasingly dry and shortened. We stopped writing beautiful romantic letters, replacing bright semantic phrases and emotions with pictures and emoticons. But there is an excellent tool with which it is easy to “color” and enrich our language - epithets. Even in elementary school, children get their first idea of ​​what epithets are in literature; 3rd grade studies their main types and techniques that writers use when creating their masterpieces.

What is an epithet and why is it needed?

If you have forgotten what an epithet is in literature, grade 4 and program primary school will have to be restored in memory.
By definition, epithets are words, most often adjectives, that give the associated word figurativeness, helping to more accurately reveal its essence. This can be one “attached” (translated from ancient Greek) or a phrase. To supplement the familiar concept with an emotional or semantic connotation, the following are also used:

• nouns: "joy squeal";
• verbs: “volunteer to give a speech”;
• numerals: “first friend.”

Epithets are an opportunity to most accurately convey your emotions or characteristics of an object, phenomenon, or situation.
For example, the phrase “cold wind” says nothing about the strength of the wind, how cold it is, or how it feels in such weather. And if you add to the word “wind” the epithets “icy”, “prickly”, “icy”, “piercing through”, the emotional perception immediately changes. You already feel how the icy winter cold creeps under your clothes, the wind digs small thorns into your face and hands.

Constant epithets

There are simple, familiar epithets that are used in everyday life, making our speech more beautiful and figurative. Colloquial constant epithets, what are they?
These are words with which we supplement our everyday speech to convey judgments or emotions associated with ordinary things:

• “fragrant borscht”;
• "romantic comedy"
• "boring book"

Literary use of epithets

Perhaps there is not a single work where literary or unique author’s epithets are not used, with the help of which poets and writers greatly enhance the emotional perception of their works. What is an epithet in literature and how is it different from an ordinary one?
As a rule, various “embellishing” words are used in poetry, and the authors choose very strange phrases that you rarely hear in everyday life. Vivid examples of what epithets are in literary works, are poems by famous poets:

• “waves play”, “golden ray”, “open anger” from Lermontov;
• “amber shine”, “cloudy sky”, “wavy fogs”, “the moon makes its way” from Pushkin;
• Khlebnikov’s “fiery sail of the tail”, “downy paws”.

To understand what epithets are in literary folklore, it is enough to recall fairy tales and epics. The imagery of the description of fairy-tale characters and plots is directly related to the folk traditions of a particular area.

For example, Russian fairy tales are characterized by traditional expressions:

• "clear falcon";
• "the thirtieth state";
• “for the sake of a catchphrase”;
• "face white."

If you look into oriental fairy tales, you will often find completely different phrases in them:

• "pious sultan";
• "moon-faced princess";
• "painted tent"

Over time, the concept of what epithets are in literary works changes and becomes more complex. They have become richer in semantic expressions, but still play an important role, both in art and in everyday life, making it more diverse and brighter.

Our speech would be poor without words that describe the characteristics of the objects that we are telling our interlocutor about. Epithets help convey how a speaker feels about a particular phenomenon and what assessment he gives it.

Let's consider what an epithet is in literature, give a definition of this term, look at an example of why it is needed, and note the importance of its use in a particular case.

The word has ancient Greek roots, its meaning is clear from the translation - “attached”. The function of an epithet is to emphasize the word next to it.

It gives expressiveness to the phrase. This can be an adjective (a beautiful fence), an adverb (to run quickly), as well as a noun, numeral (third number), verb, .

Epithets are used in the poem to emphasize imagery, emotional coloring, the author’s vision, hidden or explicit meaning.

The epithet is often used in both poetry and prose. Its structure and textual functionality give the word color, new meaning, and emotionality. The role of the word is described by experts in different ways. They don't have a common vision. Although this is one of the oldest stylistic terms.

Some classify it among figures and paths, considering it an independent unit. Others argue that it should only be used in poetry and not in prose.

Important! Previously, the term “decorating epithet” was used, but it did not accurately characterize this phenomenon.

A simple epithet is an expression without a figurative meaning. And the lofty term can be attributed to metaphor.

It is difficult to overestimate the meaning of this word, since without its use the poems would be faded and inexpressive.

Defining words allow not only to emphasize the property of an object, but also to emotionally color the author’s attitude towards this object. Then the reader also feels the emotions that the author of the text wanted to convey.

Examples of epithets

Such techniques help to highlight main idea or highlight advantages. People liked some expressions so much that they began to be used in speech. This suggests that the writer coped with his task: his work was not only remembered, but it also went to the people.

Sometimes it is only through these definitions that a writer can use their personality and come up with a unique definition. It may be the fruit of the author’s inner world, his attitude to the situation.

Use in literature

Using this technique, a significant feature is identified in what the author wanted to say. It can be a word or phrase. Two types can be used in a poem:

• figurative;
• lyrical.

The first option is used when you need to emphasize a word, but avoid evaluation. Examples: red sunset, yellow sun, blue sky. That is, it is rather a statement of fact. The second option is the author’s attitude towards what he describes (noisy aspen, most beautiful action).

Epithets: interpretation and role in language

With epithets that are well chosen, the writer or poet draws more attention to those words that he wants to emphasize or emphasize. Therefore, it is important to find expressions that will add expressiveness to the work.

A correctly chosen definition can give speech sophistication, depth and enhanced expression of properties. Most often, these words are adjectives. They are located behind the defined word.

Alexander Blok used reinforcements in his works, placing them distant from each other. This technique colored their sound. They were located at the end of the line of the poem.

Epithets in different parts speeches

Knowing what an epithet is in literature, a writer can easily use it to enhance the semantic effect, as well as create author’s definitions. This is the exception rather than the rule, but they are present in the works of V. Mayakovsky, for example.

With their help, he gives expression to expression, using not one word, but several. After reading such a combination of words, a person will think about the author’s thoughts and appreciate how complex and broad it is to look at everyday things.

After re-reading the expressions several times, it is easy to find the subtext and veiled message that the author wanted to convey to the reader.

Constant epithets

Many people wonder what permanent, established epithets are. This is a beautiful definition that is associated with the word and forms an inextricable, stable connection with it.

In fact, these are phrases that are fixed in the language and came into literature from folklore. Most often they are adjectives.

Definition of epithet, examples

Many examples of these stable phrases can be easily found in fairy tales and epics. Typically this is top quality in the subject being described. They fit organically into the meaning of the works.

Constant epithets describe the idealized world of the work, its perfection. They are also used in songs for lyrical appreciation.

Their use occurs systematically, they quietly take root in speech. For example:

• red maiden;
• sugar lips;
• the sun is clear;
• gray bunny;
• Golden autumn;
• white hands;
• biting frost;
• clear field.

They are used so often that they lose their original meaning. But their main use was in folk art.

Examples of epithets

The linguistic term “means of expression” is a certain combination of several words that form one whole.

This term describes words artistically. He:

• defines features and qualities;
• creates an impression;
• expresses the emotionality of the author;
• conveys mood;
• describes the image;
• evaluates and characterizes.

Types of epithets

The following types are distinguished:

1. Sustainable or poetic. Most often they find their use in folklore, as well as in poems.
2. Figurative or descriptive.
3. Lyrical, emotionally charged.
4. Double, triple.
5. Metaphorical.
6. Metanomic.

Types of epithets

Important! Epithets are the basic building blocks that the author uses to create art world works. With their help, you can plunge into the atmosphere of the poem and become a witness of the era.

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Let's sum it up

When the author gives the most simple words unusual features, he emphasizes the brightness and expressiveness of the story he wants to tell. This technique gives volume to the word and expression, and a process of emotional evaluation occurs.

With the help of colorful definitions, the world that a writer or poet creates becomes alive and tangible. After reading such a work, a person can easily imagine the world and the described atmosphere based on figurative words.

In contact with

Epithet- this is a word that gives the subsequent word expressiveness and imagery. It represents, as it were, the definition of this word. Most often, the epithet is an adjective, less often an adverb, but it can also be a verb or even a noun. As a striking example, consider the phrase "winged swing" containing the epithet "winged". This epithet helps the reader to imagine a swing in front of him not only as simple pieces of iron moving first and then back, but also as a kind of bird that, flapping its large beautiful wings, soars in the air.

The word "epithet" comes from the ancient Greek "attached". As we already understood, it is a kind of addition to the main word or concept and is intended to give the main word expressiveness and brightness.

Epithets are used very widely in literature. They are most often found in various poetic works, but prose is also saturated with them, and even everyday speech cannot do without this powerful speech instrument.

Along with other visual means, epithets have undergone some changes over time, becoming more and more perfect, which can be seen if you analyze literary works taken from the past and modern ones.

In folk art, as well as in the earliest literary works, epithets, as a rule, are used to describe the properties of objects and phenomena, their key features are highlighted, but the emotional, personal component remains untouched: red maiden, red gold.

The development of literature led to the complication of the role and structure of epithets; they began to acquire new properties and functional content. Such changes were most clearly reflected in the work of poets of the Silver Age and the subsequent period: the edge of the limit, lazy-passionate rosehip etc.

Modern literature, and especially postmodern works, have made the structures of epithets and their semantic content even more complex. Today you can find such rather unusual expressive techniques as, for example: Diathesis was blooming, diapers were turning golden.

Why are epithets needed in literature?

Epithets are a very important element of speech, giving it expressiveness, prominence and emotionality. They help the author of a work to express his own attitude towards the objects described, or to present them to readers in a new, very unusual light.

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