Apostrophe Definition

In literature, apostrophe is a figure of speech sometimes represented by exclamation “O”.

A writer or a speaker, using an apostrophe, detaches himself from the reality and
addresses an imaginary characterin his speech.

It is important not to confuse the apostrophe which is a figure of speech and the
apostrophe which is a punctuation mark (‘). It shows possession or a mark to indicate
omission of one or more letters (contractions) while apostrophe used in literature is an
arrangement of words addressing a non-existent person or an abstract idea in such a way
as if it were present and capable of understanding feelings.

Apostrophe Examples from Literature

English literature is replete with instances of apostrophe. Let us have a look at a few
examples.

Example #1

William Shakespeare makes use of an apostrophe in his play “Macbeth”:

“Is this a dagger which I see before me,

The handle toward my hand?
Come, let me clutch thee!
I have thee not, and yet I see thee still.”

In his mental conflict before murdering King Duncan, Macbeth has a strange vision of a
dagger and talks to it as if it were another person.

Example #2

Jane Taylor uses apostrophe in the well-known nursery rhyme “The Star”:
“Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.”

In the above nursery rhyme, a child addresses a star (an imaginary idea). Hence, this is a
classic example of apostrophe.

Example #3

Look at how Mary Shelly uses apostrophe in her novel “Frankenstein”:

“Oh! Stars and clouds and winds, ye are all about to mock me; if ye really pity me, crush
sensation and memory; let me become as nought; but if not, depart, depart, and leave me
in darkness.”

Talking to stars, clouds and winds is an apostrophe.

Example #4

John Donne comes up with the use of an apostrophe in his poem “Death Be Not Proud”:

“Death be not proud, though some have called thee

Mighty and dreadful, for, thou art not so,
For, those, whom thou think’st, thou dost overthrow,
Die not, poor death, nor yet canst thou kill me.”

The poet talks to death, an abstract idea, as if it were a person capable of comprehending
his feelings.

Similarly, John Donne once more uses apostrophe in his poem “The Sun Rising”:
“Busy old fool, unruly Sun,
Why dost thou thus,
Through windows, and through curtains, call on
us?
Must to thy motions lovers’ seasons run?
Saucy pedantic wretch,”

The poet addresses the sun in an informal and colloquial way as if it were a real human
being. He asks the Sun in a rude way why the Sun appeared and spoiled the good time he
was having with his beloved.

Example #5

James Joyce uses apostrophe in his novel “A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man”:

“Welcome, O life! I go to encounter for the millionth time the reality of experience and to
forge in the smithy of my soul the uncreated conscience of my race.”

Being able to talk to something abstract like life is possible only in literature.

Example #6

Billy Collins, in his poem “To a Stranger Born in Some Distant Country Hundreds of
Years from Now”, uses a conventional apostrophe starting with “O”:

“O stranger of the future!

O inconceivable being!
Whatever the shape of your house,
However you scoot from place to place,
No matter how strange and colorless the clothes you may wear,
I bet nobody likes a wet dog either.
I bet everyone in your pub,
Even the children, pushes her away.”

The speaker is talking to an imaginary character, the “stranger born in some distant
country hundreds of years from now”.

Example #7

Another apostrophe example is from the poem “Sire” written by W.S Merwin:

“Forerunner, I would like to say, silent pilot,

Little dry death, future,
Your indirections are as strange to me
As my own. I know so little that anything
You might tell me would be a revelation.”

Function of Apostrophe

By employing apostrophe in their literary works, writers try to bring abstract ideas or
non-existent persons to life so that the nature of emotions they want to communicate gets
across in a better way – because it is more convenient for the readers to relate themselves
to the abstract emotions when they observe them in their natural surroundings. In
addition, the use of apostrophe motivates the readers to develop a perspective that is fresh
as well as creative.

Exercise : Apostrophes
Punctuate the following sentences with apostrophes according to the rules for using the
apostrophe.

1. Whos the partys candidate for vice president this year?

2. The fox had its right foreleg caught securely in the traps jaws.

3. Our neighbors car is an old Chrysler, and its just about to fall apart.

4. In three weeks time well have to begin school again.

5. Didnt you hear that theyre leaving tomorrow?

6. Whenever I think of the stories I read as a child, I remember Cinderellas glass slipper
and Snow Whites wicked stepmother.

7. We claimed the picnic table was ours, but the Smiths children looked so disappointed
that we found another spot.

8. Its important that the kitten learns to find its way home.

9. She did not hear her childrens cries.

10. My address has three 7s, and Tims phone number has four 2s.

11. Didnt he say when he would arrive at Arnies house?

12. Its such a beautiful day that Ive decided to take a sun bath.

13. She said the watch Jack found was hers, but she couldnt identify the manufacturers
name on it.

14. Little girls clothing is on the first floor, and the mens department is on the second.

15. The dogs bark was far worse than its bite.

16. The moons rays shone feebly on the path, and I heard the insects chirpings and
whistlings.

17. Theyre not afraid to go ahead with the plans, though the choice is not theirs.

18. The man whose face was tan said that he had spent his two weeks vacation in the
mountains.

19. I found myself constantly putting two cs in the word process.

20. Johns 69 Ford is his proudest possession.

Answer : Apostrophes
The following sentences are punctuated with apostrophes according to the rules for using
the apostrophe. Correct answers are in bold.

1. Who's the party's candidate for vice president this year?

2. The fox had its right foreleg caught securely in the trap's jaws.

3. Our neighbor's car is an old Chrysler, and it's just about to fall apart.

4. In three weeks' time we'll have to begin school again.

5. Didn't you hear that they're leaving tomorrow?

6. Whenever I think of the stories I read as a child, I remember Cinderella's glass slipper
andSnow White's wicked stepmother.

7. We claimed the picnic table was ours, but the Smiths' children looked so disappointed
that we found another spot.

8. It's important that the kitten learns to find its way home.

9. She did not hear her children's cries.

10. My address has three 7s, and Tim's phone number has four 2s.

11. Didn't he say when he would arrive at Arnie's house?

12. It's such a beautiful day that I've decided to take a sun bath.

13. She said the watch Jack found was hers, but she couldn't identify
the manufacturer'sname on it.

14. Little girls' clothing is on the first floor, and the men's department is on the second.

15. The dog's bark was far worse than its bite.

16. The moon's rays shone feebly on the path, and I heard the insects' chirpings and
whistlings.

17. They're not afraid to go ahead with the plans, though the choice is not theirs.

18. The man whose face was tan said that he had spent his two weeks' vacation in the
mountains.

19. I found myself constantly putting two c's in the word process.
20. John's '69 Ford is his proudest possession.

In each question, only one of the sentences has all the apostrophes correctly placed. Click
next to the correct sentence.

a) Bristol's harbour is one of the countrys most beautiful.

b) Bristols harbour is one of the country's most beautiful.
c) Bristol's harbour is one of the country's most beautiful.
 d) Bristols' harbour is one of the countrys' most beautiful.
Please select an answer
Check your answer c
2

a) The two boy's bags were lying at the river's edge.

b) The two boys bag's were lying at the rivers' edge.
c) The two boys' bags were lying at the river's edge.
d) The two boys' bags' were lying at the rivers edge.
Check your answer c
3

a) My parent's flat is in one of the city's finest areas.

b) My parents' flat is in one of the citys finest areas'.
c) My parents' flat is in one of the citys' finest areas.
d) My parents' flat is in one of the city's finest areas.
Check your answer d
4

a) The world's experts were quick to praise the two girls' courage.
b) The world's experts were quick to praise the two girl's courage.
c) The worlds expert's were quick to praise the two girls' courage.
d) The worlds' experts were quick to praise the two girls' courage.
Check your answer a
5

a) Steve's mothers house is right next to his only sister's flat.

b) Steves mother's house is right next to his only sister's flat.
c) Steve's mothers' house is right next to his only sisters' flat.
d) Steve's mother's house is right next to his only sister's flat.
Check your answer d
6

a) The two buildings doors' and windows' were damaged in the blast.
b) The two buildings door's and window's were damaged in the blast.
c) The two buildings' doors and windows were damaged in the blast.
d) The two building's doors and windows were damaged in the blast.
Check your answer c
7

a) The cat's illness was making its paws sore.

b) The cat's illness was making it's paws sore.
c) The cats' illness was making its paws sore.
d) The cats' illness' was making its paws sore.
Check your answer a
8
 a) The teams manager's attitude was affecting all the player's performance.
b) The team's manager's attitude was affecting all the players' performance.
c) The teams manager's attitude was affecting all the players' performance.
d) The team's manager's attitude was affecting all the player's performance.
Check your answer b
9

a) It's owners made Ted the cat's life very comfortable.

b) It's owners' made Ted the cats life very comfortable.
c) Its owners made Ted the cats' life very comfortable.
d) Its owners made Ted the cat's life very comfortable.
Check your answer d
10

a) The Roman's bridges and roads were vital for moving the troops' supplies.
b) The Romans' bridges and roads were vital for moving the troops' supplies.
c) The Romans' bridges and roads were vital for moving the troop's supplies.
d) The Romans bridge's and road's were vital for moving the troops supplies.
b