Adynaton
Adynaton (a-dyn'-a-ton) is an extreme form of hyperbole in which the exaggeration could not possibly happen in reality. “Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood Clean from my hand?” Macbeth, 2.2.78
Quotes including the Figure of Speech Adynaton
Gratiano speaks an infinite deal of nothing
Read the QuoteGratiano speaks an infinite deal of nothing, more than any man in all Venice.Adynaton His reasons are as two grains of wheat hid in two bushels of chaff: you shall seek all day ere you find them, and when you have them, they are not worth the search.Simile
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Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world
Read the QuoteWhy, man, he doth bestride the narrow world
Like a Colossus, and we petty men
Walk under his huge legs, and peep about
To find ourselves dishonorable graves.Adynaton & Simile
The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,
But in ourselves, that we are underlings.
Men at some time are masters of their fates;
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Thrift, thrift, Horatio
Read the QuoteHamlet
Thrift, thrift, Horatio.Epizeuxis The funeral baked meats
Did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables.Alliteration
Would I had met my dearest foe in heaven
Or ever I had seen that day, Horatio!
My father—methinks I see my father.
He was a man. Take him for all in all,
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Not for that neither. Here’s the pang that pinches
Read the QuoteAnne
Not for that neither.Anapodoton Here’s the pang that pinches:
His Highness having lived so long with herAlliteration, and she
So good a lady that no tongue could ever
Pronounce dishonor of her—Parenthesesby my life,
She never knew harm-doing!—O, now,
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Now, Ursula, when Beatrice doth come
Read the SonnetHero
Now, Ursula, when Beatrice doth come,
As we do trace this alley up and down,
Our talk must only be of Benedick.
When I do name him, let it be thy part
To praise him more than ever man did merit.
What fire is in mine ears?
My talk to thee must be how Benedick
Is sick in love with Beatrice.
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Search out thy wit for secret policies
Read the QuoteBastard
Search out thy wit for secret policies,
And we will make thee famous through the world.
Alanson, to Pucelle
We’ll set thy statue in some holy place
And have thee reverenced like a blessèd saint.Simile
Employ thee then, sweet virgin, for our good.