Elision definition: Elision is when the author omits a letter or letters in part of a word.
What is Elision?
What does elision mean? Elision is a technique in which the writer omits a letter or letters in part of a word. Oftentimes this is used when writing in meter in order to create the desired rhythm or pattern.
Example of Elision
In William Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 18,” he writes, “When in eternal lines to time thou grow’st.”
- “grow’st” = elision because he deleted the “e” from growest
- Shakespeare did this in order to create a one-syllable word to fit his pattern of iambic pentameter (lines with ten syllables).
Elision vs. Contraction
Elisions may be confused with contractions because both involve removing letters and replacing them with apostrophes.
However, contractions serve the purpose to join two words together. Through this jointure letters are removed and replaced with an apostrophe.
- is + not = isn’t = the “o” is removed and replaced with an apostrophe
In contrast, elisions involve removing letter(s) from a single words and replacing them with an apostrophe.
- ever = e’er = the “v” is removed from the single word “ever” to form the one syllable “e’er”
The Function of Elision
Elision is important with writing in verse or prose that must maintain a particular metrical pattern because they allow the writer to manipulate the sound and syllable contents of the words without changing the meanings or having to use a different word. It is also used to make a writing more rhythmic sounding to the reader.
Examples of Elision in Literature
In John Milton’s Paradise Lost, he frequently uses elisions in his writing. For example Satan says, “Awake, arise, or be forever fall’n”.
- Fall’n = fallen = the deleting of the “e” in “fallen” and replacing it with an apostrophe is an example of elision
In William Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 66” he includes elisions in the ending couplet, “Tir’d with all these, from these would I be gone, / Save that, to die, I leave my love alone”.
- Tir’d = tired = the deleting of the “e” in “tired” and replacing it with an apostrophe is an example of elision
Summary: What Are Elisions?
Define elision in literature: Elision is the deletion of a letter or letters in a word. This omitting of letters serves the purpose of maintaining a metrical pattern or creating rhythm in the writing.
Final example:
In poem Hero and Leander by Christopher Marlowe, he writes, “Upon her head she ware a myrtle wreath, / From whence her veil reach’d to the ground beneath”.
- Reach’d = reached = the deleting of the “e” in “reached” and replacing it with an apostrophe is an example of elision
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