aposiopesis Definition
a figure of speech in which the speaker or writer breaks off abruptly and leaves a statement incomplete, as if unable or unwilling to proceed.
Using aposiopesis: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "aposiopesis" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
I was going to tell you what happened, but... never mind.
Example
If you don't stop that, I'll...
Example
Well, I never!
Phrases with aposiopesis
a literary device used to create tension or suspense by leaving a thought or sentence unfinished
Example
In Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar, Mark Antony says, 'Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.' The sentence is left unfinished, creating suspense and anticipation for what will follow.
a rhetorical device used to create emphasis or to express strong emotions
Example
In Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous speech 'I Have a Dream,' he says, 'But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. And so...' The sentence is left unfinished, creating emphasis on the idea that justice will prevail despite setbacks.
a comedic device used to create humor by abruptly stopping a sentence or thought, often with a twist or unexpected ending
Example
In Monty Python's 'Dead Parrot' sketch, John Cleese says, 'He's not pining, he's passed on. This parrot is no more. He has ceased to be. He's expired and gone to meet his maker. He's a stiff. Bereft of life, he rests in peace. If you hadn't nailed him to the perch, he would be pushing up daisies. His metabolic processes are now history. He's off the twig. He's kicked the bucket. He's shuffled off this mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the choir invisible. This is an ex-parrot!' The sentence is abruptly stopped with a twist, creating a humorous effect.
Origins of aposiopesis
from Greek 'aposiopesis', meaning 'becoming silent'
Summary: aposiopesis in Brief
'Aposiopesis' [ˌæpəsaɪəˈpiːsɪs] is a figure of speech in which the speaker or writer breaks off abruptly and leaves a statement incomplete, creating tension, emphasis, or humor. It is used in literature, such as Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, to create suspense, in rhetoric, such as Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I Have a Dream' speech, to create emphasis, and in comedy, such as Monty Python's 'Dead Parrot' sketch, to create humor.
