litotes literary definition-litotes in literature and examples

 litotes literary definition-litotes in literature and examples

 

 A figure od speech consisting of an understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by negating its opposite. Litotes, derived from a Greek word meaning "simple", is a figure of speech which employs an understatement by using double negatives or, in other words, positive statement is expressed by negating its opposite expressions.

Some examples of litotes from daily conversations:

- Your apartment is not unclean

- They do not seem the happiest couple around.

- The ice cream was not too bad.

- New York is not an ordinary city.

- I can`t disagree with your point of view.

- William Shakespeare was not a bad playwright at all.

- He is not the cleverest person i have ever met.

- She is not unlike her mother.

- A million dollars is not a little amount.

- You are not doing badly at all.

Examples of Litotes from Literature:

Example 1:

" I am not unaware how the productions of the Grub street brotherhood have of late years fallen under many prejudices."

Example 2:

"Some say the world will end in fire some say in ice.

From what i`ve tasted of desire i hold with those who favor fire. But if i had to perish twice,i think i know enough of hate To say that for destruction ice is also great and would suffice."