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irony
(Encyclopedia)irony, figure of speech in which what is stated is not what is meant. The user of irony assumes that his reader or listener understands the concealed meaning of his statement. Perhaps the simplest for...litotes
(Encyclopedia)litotes līˈtətēzˌ [key], figure of speech in which a statement is made by indicating the negative of its opposite, e.g., “not many” meaning “a few.” A form of irony, litotes is meant to e...figure of speech
(Encyclopedia)figure of speech, intentional departure from straight-forward, literal use of language for the purpose of clarity, emphasis, or freshness of expression. See separate articles on antithesis; apostrophe...Renan, Ernest
(Encyclopedia)Renan, Ernest ĕrnĕstˈ rənäNˈ [key], 1823–92, French historian and critic. He began training for the priesthood but renounced it in 1845. His first trip to Italy (1849) influenced his interest ...Hayden, Robert
(Encyclopedia)Hayden, Robert hāˈdən [key], 1913–80, American poet, b. Detroit. After earning his M.A. at the Univ. of Michigan, he taught there and at Fisk Univ. Although the tone of his poems is quiet and oft...Couperus, Louis Marie Anne
(Encyclopedia)Couperus, Louis Marie Anne lwē märēˈ än ko͞opāˈro͝os [key], 1863–1923, Dutch novelist. In his early works he emphasized with graceful irony the determining forces of human history and envir...Vinje, Aasmund Olafsson
(Encyclopedia)Vinje, Aasmund Olafsson ôsˈmo͝on ōˈläfs-sôn vĭnˈyə [key], 1818–70, Norwegian essayist and poet. After establishing a reputation as a successful journalist, Vinje earned a law degree. In 18...Magritte, René
(Encyclopedia)Magritte, René rənāˈ mägrētˈ [key], 1898–1967, Belgian surrealist painter. Strongly influenced by Chirico, Magritte developed a style in which a misleading sort of realism is combined with mo...Escher, M. C.
(Encyclopedia)Escher, M. C. (Maurits Cornelis Escher) ĕsˈkhər [key], 1898–1972, Dutch artist. Primarily a graphic artist, Escher composed works notable for their irony, often with impossible perspectives rende...Stafford, Jean
(Encyclopedia)Stafford, Jean, 1915–79, American writer, b. Covina, Calif., grad. Univ. of Colorado, 1936. Her literary reputation rests primarily on her exquisitely wrought short stories. Both these and her novel...Browse by Subject
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