Homer Homer Simpson Simpson

on on LanguageLanguageFigures of Speech Figures of Speech

from His from His

Point of ViewPoint of View

Rhetorical QuestionsRhetorical Questions

Mother Simpson: [singing] ’How many roads must a man walk down before you can call him a man?’Homer: ’Seven.’Lisa: ‘No, dad, it's a rhetorical question.’Homer:’ OK, eight.’Lisa: ‘Dad, do you even know what "rhetorical" means?’Homer: ‘Do I know what "rhetorical" means?’Rhetorical Question: n. a question asked

solely to produce an effect or to make an assertion and not to elicit a reply

Homeric Rhetorical Homeric Rhetorical QuestionQuestion

Books are useless! I only ever read one book, To Kill A Mockingbird, and it gave me absolutely no insight on how to kill mockingbirds! Sure it taught me not to judge a man by the color of his skin . . . but what good does that do me? (Homer)

Verbal IronyVerbal Irony

“’Owww, look at me, Marge, I'm making people happy! I'm the magical man, from Happy Land, who lives in a gumdrop house on Lolly Pop Lane! . . . By the way I was being sarcastic’” (Homer).

Verbal Irony: a literary technique in which the writer or speaker says one thing but really means the opposite. More often than not, it is accompanied by sarcasm.

PersonificationPersonification

“’The only monster here is the gambling monster that has enslaved your mother! I call him Gambler, and it's time to snatch your mother from his neon claws!’” (Homer).

Personification: a nonhuman thing or quality is talked about as if it were human (e.g., the hands of a clock or an angry sky).(Nordquist, Homer Simpson’s)

OxymoronOxymoron

“Though sometimes misjudged as a complete moron, Homer is actually a deft manipulator of the oxymoron” (Nordquist).

“’Oh Bart, don't worry, people die all the time. In fact, you could wake up dead tomorrow’" (Homer).Oxymoron: a figure of speech that combines apparently contradictory or opposing ideas, typically an adjective and a noun, in order to create meaning and draw attention to a particular idea (e.g., living death, deafening silence, or cruel love).(Nordquist, Homer Simpson’s)

Paradox vs. OxymoronParadox vs. Oxymoron

Paradox: a figure of speech in which the statement appears to contradict itself but is, nevertheless, true. All forms of irony involve paradox.

WHAT THEN SEPARATES THE TWO?

Subtle but Significant:Subtle but Significant:Oxymoron vs. ParadoxOxymoron vs. ParadoxOxymoronOxymoron

A combination of two A combination of two contradictory termscontradictory terms

Comes with only two to Comes with only two to three words that three words that contradict themselvescontradict themselves

Considered to be a Considered to be a description of a phrase description of a phrase that is contradic-torythat is contradic-tory

Two words (typically Two words (typically and adj.-noun or adv. –and adj.-noun or adv. –adj.) stand next to each adj.) stand next to each other other

The words seem to be The words seem to be contradictory, but contradictory, but provide a dramatic provide a dramatic effecteffect

ParadoxParadox A statement or a group of A statement or a group of

statementsstatements Apparently a Apparently a

contradictory statement contradictory statement that leads to a true that leads to a true situation that defies situation that defies intuitionintuition

Considered to be an Considered to be an action that is action that is contradictorycontradictory

A logic statement A logic statement contradicting itselfcontradicting itself

A statement that contains A statement that contains opposing elements that opposing elements that when read together make when read together make some sensesome sense

PARADOX

OXYMORON

1. Paradox is a statement or group of statements. Oxymoron is a combination of two contradictory terms.

2. Paradox consists of a whole sentence or paragraph. Oxymoron, on the other hand, comes with only two words that contradict themselves.

3. Paradox is an action that is contradictory and oxymoron is a description of a phrase.

http://cleansingzeolite.com/wp-content/uploads/Big-Man-Small-Man1.png

EuphemismsEuphemisms

Euphemism: the substitution of a mild, Euphemism: the substitution of a mild, indirect, or vague indirect, or vague expression for one  for one thought to be offensive, harsh, or thought to be offensive, harsh, or blunt. .

Bart’s overweight friend Martin Prince seeks Bart’s overweight friend Martin Prince seeks help to lose weight in one of the episodes help to lose weight in one of the episodes and the boy’s father tries to make light (note and the boy’s father tries to make light (note my use of pun?) of the situation:my use of pun?) of the situation:

Mr. Prince: We’ll see you when you get back Mr. Prince: We’ll see you when you get back from image enhancement camp.from image enhancement camp.

Martin Prince: Spare me your euphemisms! It’s Martin Prince: Spare me your euphemisms! It’s fat camp, for Daddy’s chubby little secret!fat camp, for Daddy’s chubby little secret!

(Nordquist, Language Lessons)(Nordquist, Language Lessons)

Look out Look out grammar, grammar,

here we here we come!come!

The Simpsons Stick The Simpsons Stick it to the English it to the English Language Some Language Some

More!More!

FragmentsFragmentsIdentify the fragments after enjoying the Identify the fragments after enjoying the

verbal sparring!verbal sparring!

Lisa: Almost done. Just Lisa: Almost done. Just laylay still. still.

Linguo the Grammar Robot: Linguo the Grammar Robot: Lie Lie still.still.

Lisa: I knew that. Just testing.Lisa: I knew that. Just testing.

Linguo: Sentence fragment.Linguo: Sentence fragment.

Lisa: “Sentence fragment” is also a sentence Lisa: “Sentence fragment” is also a sentence fragment.fragment.

Linguo: Must conserve battery power.Linguo: Must conserve battery power.

(Nordquist, Language Lessons)(Nordquist, Language Lessons)

ConnotationsConnotations

Connotation: the idea and feeling the reader Connotation: the idea and feeling the reader associates with the word, as opposed to its associates with the word, as opposed to its dictionary definition. For example, the word dictionary definition. For example, the word mother in addition to its basic meaning (“a mother in addition to its basic meaning (“a female parent”), has the connotations of love, female parent”), has the connotations of love, warmth, and security. Remember warmth, and security. Remember D for D for dictionary definition dictionary definition as a reminder.as a reminder.

Lisa: “A rose by any other name smells as Lisa: “A rose by any other name smells as sweet.”sweet.”

Bart: “Not if you call them ‘Stench Blossoms.”Bart: “Not if you call them ‘Stench Blossoms.”

(Nordquist, Language Lessons)(Nordquist, Language Lessons)http://www.tutsking.com/wp-content/uploads/bart/BartSimpson.jpg

Suffixes: Remember to Suffixes: Remember to Use Your Vocabulary Use Your Vocabulary

Know How!Know How!Prefixes, suffixes, and basic Latin and Greek roots Prefixes, suffixes, and basic Latin and Greek roots

will help you enormously on the PASS. Take your will help you enormously on the PASS. Take your time to decode what you think at first sight you time to decode what you think at first sight you don’t know.don’t know.

Watch for confusables!Watch for confusables!

Dr. Nick Rivera: Who would have thought? Dr. Nick Rivera: Who would have thought? InflammableInflammable means means flammableflammable!!

Review those common prefixes and suffixes I’ve Review those common prefixes and suffixes I’ve taught you!taught you!

Homer: Good things doen’t end in Homer: Good things doen’t end in –eum–eum; they end ; they end in in –mania–mania or or –-teria–-teria..

Based on what you know, do you agree with Homer?Based on what you know, do you agree with Homer?

(Nordquist, Language Lessons) (Nordquist, Language Lessons)

Types of Sentences:Types of Sentences:Imperatives and Imperatives and

ExclamationsExclamationsImperatives: Sentences that give a command, Imperatives: Sentences that give a command,

typically “you understood.” Sometimes the typically “you understood.” Sometimes the recipient of the command is named.recipient of the command is named.

Homer: “Shut up, Brain, or I’ll stab you with a Q-Homer: “Shut up, Brain, or I’ll stab you with a Q-tip.”tip.”

Exclamations: Sentences that exclaim something Exclamations: Sentences that exclaim something and end with an exclamation point. They and end with an exclamation point. They express strong emotion.express strong emotion.

Homer: I can’t believe it! Reading and writing Homer: I can’t believe it! Reading and writing actually paid off!actually paid off!

(Nordquist, Language Lesons)(Nordquist, Language Lesons)

Commercial ~Commercial ~

So much yet So much yet to come to come . . .. . .

ErotesisErotesis

Erotesis: a form of a rhetorical question implying strong affirmation or denial

"Donuts. Is there anything they can't do?"

About.com/Animated TV; www.google.com/im;res?q=donuts&hl=en&safe

AnaphoraAnaphora

A rhetorical term for the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses.

I want to shake off the dust of this one-horse town. I want to explore the world. I want to watch TV in a different time zone. I want to visit strange, exotic malls. I’m sick of eating hoagies! I want a grinder, a sub, a foot-long hero! I want to LIVE, Marge! Won’t you let me live? Won’t you, please? (inhabiting the spirit of Susan Hayward). (Homer)

MalapropismMalapropism

Malapropism: Absurd or humorous misuse of a word, especially by confusion with one of similar sound. Adjective: malapropian or malapropistic.

Dear Lord, thank you for this microwave bounty, even though we don't deserve it. I mean . . . our kids are uncontrollable hellions! Pardon my French, but they act like savages! Did you see them at the picnic? Oh, of course you did. You're everywhere, you're omnivorous. Oh Lord! Why did you spite me with this family? (Homer)

Works CitedWorks Cited

Nordquist, Richard. “Homer Simpson's Figures of Speech Tripping Over Tropes With

Springfield's Master Rhetorician.” About.ComGuide

Nordquist, Richard. “Language Lessons From ‘The Simpsons’: Linguistic Laugh Lines

From Bart, Lisa, Slideshow Bob, and Krusty the Clown.” About.com Guide