Figures Of Speech (105-127)

• In line 114, Ovid utilizes an apostrophe, when he has Pyramus say "O quicumque sub hac habitatis rupe leones!" meaning, "Oh! Whatever lions that live under this rock!" An apostrophe is demonstrated by line 114 because Pyramus is speaking to the lions that are not actually present at the time and place where he is, himself. An apostrophe can also occur when one is speaking to an inanimate object, instead of an object that is not present at the time.
• A synechdoce is demonstrated by Ovid in line 119 "Quoque erat accintus, demisit in ilia ferrum." This can be considered a synechdoce, when a whole is represented by naming one of its parts, because the word ferrum means iron. Ovid did not mean to say Pyramus literally stabbed himself in the groin with a piece of iron, but rather, with a sword. Therefore, iron is the word representing the sword: the part representing the whole.
• In line 117, Ovid uses an anaphora by repetition of the word "dedit." He writes "utque dedit notae lacrimas, dedit oscula vesti" meaning he gave tears and gave kisses to the familiar veil. An anaphora is the repetition of the same word, at the beginning of successive clauses, so evidently, Ovid successfully utilizes an anaphora to evoke sympathy from the audience, for Pyramus.