Litotes By Nicole Schumacher Definition The deliberate use

Litotes By: Nicole Schumacher

Definition • The deliberate use of understatement, not to deceive someone but to enhance the impressiveness of what we say.

In simpler words? • Litotes usually describe what something is not. • Litotes are easily made by using a double negative. • Instead of saying something is attractive, you could say something is not unattractive.

Example 1: • “He was not unfamiliar with the works of Mark Twain. ” • Shows that he is in fact familiar with the works of Mark Twain.

Example 2: • “I was not a little upset” • When in fact you mean you were very upset.

Example 3: • “It isn’t very serious. I have the tiny little tumor on the brain”-J. D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye • Understating the seriousness of a tumor and its size on the brain.

Example 4: • "Freedom now appeared, to disappear no more forever”- Frederick Douglass • Shows that freedom is being materialized.

Mnemonics • Litotes could be read as “Light Out, ” to consider night time a light out would be an example of litotes. • Litotes -> Toes -> Under your body -> Understatement

Video • 2: 05 to 2: 50 • http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Bhbd 9 Z 1 o. VS 0

Works Cited "Examples Of Litotes. " Litotes Examples -. N. p. , n. d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012. "Litotes and Chiasmus Movie. " You. Tube, 06 Mar. 2012. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.