Ambiguity in Writing

The term ambiguity can be defined as a statement that includes two or additional meanings, or a statement that is unclear. One particular may well consider that ambiguity in writing would be a undesirable issue, but it seriously depends on the topic matter. Ambiguity can be applied as a literary device to proficiently strengthen your writing in various approaches.

An instance of the 1st variety of ambiguity (exactly where a statement includes two or additional meanings) are these lines from Robert Frost's "To Earthward"

Appreciate at the lips was touch

As sweet as I may well bear;

And after that seemed also substantially;

I lived on air

The final line, "I lived on air" can be mentioned to be ambiguous due to the fact the phrase can have two meanings. You can actually "live on air," or it can be observed as an expression of emotion and feeling.

Ambiguity can be applied for unique motives. It can lead to undesirable plot points in your story, by developing confusion that leads to disaster. For example, a character misinterprets facts due to ambiguity and this action leads to a undesirable occasion.

It can as well be applied positively to show complexity or to indicate difficulty. In Shakespeare's "Hamlet," the character of Hamlet makes use of ambiguity in his speech to hide his true feelings. His intentional ambiguity leads to positive benefits for his character.

In humor, ambiguity can as well be utilized in dialogue to make humor or even mystery. An instance of ambiguity to make humor generally comes in the kind of puns, Enjoy the line in Shakespeare's "Romeo & Juliet." When Mercutio lies dying, he says, "Ask for me tomorrow and you shall come across me a grave man," exactly where the word "grave" has two meanings. An additional instance of ambiguous humor is the well-known line by Groucho Marx: "I shot an elephant in my pajamas. What he was performing in my pajamas, I have no concept!"

Ambiguity is a fantastic way to open a story, also. By providing a confusing statement, or A single that appears to contradict itself, the writer can draw the reader in by developing interest or mystery. Generally the ambiguity will be cleared by the end of the piece of writing, but it is the 1st confusion that can make conflict or interest.

An instance of ambiguity in the opening of a piece of writing is One particular of the most well-known 1st lines of any novel, "A Tale of Two Cities" by Charles Dickens: "It was the very best of occasions, it was the worst of occasions, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair." These contradictory statements produce a sense of ambiguity which draws the reader into the story.

In writing, becoming concise and clear is important to conveying meaning to the reader, but using ambiguity proficiently can be made use of to strengthen a piece of writing.

Tonia Jordan is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a website for Writers.

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