The Concept of Literary Marks and Their Examples

Laura García de Lucas

Hatched by Laura García de Lucas

Sep 02, 2023

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The Concept of Literary Marks and Their Examples

Literary marks, also known as literary features, are characteristics that distinguish literary texts from non-literary ones. This concept is closely associated with the Russian formalist school led by Roman Jakobson. The formalists viewed poetry as a language that is peculiarly self-aware. They believed that poems were composed of words, and literary marks are closely connected to the particular use of literary language. Literary language is employed in a way that deviates from the familiar and the everyday, presenting itself to the reader from a new perspective. It is characterized by connotative, ambiguous, subjective, and polysemous qualities.

One of the key marks of literary language is its connotative nature. In literary pieces, words have many possibilities of interpretation. Their semantic value does not solely rely on the explicit code of the language. These words are evocative and open to multiple meanings. This leads us to another mark of literary language, which is the predominance of plurisignificance or polysemy. This term is used to refer to the multiple interpretations that a single literary text can have. The aim is to influence the reader's mood and evoke emotions and feelings. In literary texts, the poetic or aesthetic function prevails over the referential function.

Literary language also exhibits a special use of syntax. There is a flexibility in the syntactic rules, allowing for creative and artistic expression. Additionally, the vocabulary used in literary texts is precise and irreplaceable. Each word is carefully chosen and cannot be substituted with another. The vocabulary and syntax used in literary works are closely related and contribute to the overall literary effect.

Another important aspect of literary texts is the use of rhetorical figures. These figures of speech enhance the aesthetic and emotional impact of the text. They add layers of meaning and create a sense of artistry. Rhetorical figures such as metaphors, similes, and personification are commonly employed in literary works.

Moving on to the article "025_fernandez.pdf," it discusses the intertextuality of poetry and the incorporation of colloquial expressions. The author explores how poems often refer to other texts, both their own and those of others. This intertextual circulation of meaning is observed through the use of fixed expressions, which are often borrowed from familiar and popular language. The phrase hecha, or fixed phrase, is the result of a crystallization of an instant, an ingenious spark, and an economy of language. It is particularly used by socially conscious poets who find in colloquial language a way to reformulate their message of social criticism.

The article highlights the importance of maintaining colloquiality in poems. Poets like Gloria Fuertes, for example, write in a way that reflects their natural way of speaking. The titles of their works, such as "Las cartas boca arriba" and "Poema sin ton ni son," immediately convey the necessary colloquialism of the poem. The use of colloquial expressions, modified or not, allows for a circulation of meaning from familiar language to poetry.

In the work "Mvp," the author analyzes the use of fixed expressions, wordplay, and clichés in poetry. They examine how these elements can be modified or combined with other locutions to create new layers of meaning. The modification of fixed expressions often involves deconstructing their idiomatic nature or adding, subtracting, permuting, or reordering elements. This manipulation of language allows for the preservation of the figural nature of the expression.

Clichés, on the other hand, are expressive images that have become banal through overuse. In poetry, they are often used in a pejorative sense due to their lack of inventiveness. However, the author argues that clichés can still serve a purpose in adding a new dimension to social criticism when combined with irony, parody, and other figures of speech.

The article also explores the relationship between the poem as a hypertext and other texts as hypotexts. They coexist and intersect, creating a palimpsest of meanings. None of the texts are completely erased, and each contributes to the overall interpretation of the poem.

In conclusion, the concept of literary marks encompasses various characteristics that distinguish literary texts from non-literary ones. These marks include connotative language, polysemy, the predominance of the poetic function, special use of syntax, precise vocabulary, and the use of rhetorical figures. The incorporation of colloquial expressions and the modification of fixed phrases add layers of meaning to poetry. The intertextual circulation of sense and the manipulation of language contribute to the aesthetic and emotional impact of the text.

Actionable Advice:

  1. Experiment with the use of connotative language in your writing. Explore different interpretations and evoke emotions through carefully chosen words.

  2. Play with syntax and explore the flexibility of grammatical rules. This can add a unique and artistic touch to your writing.

  3. Incorporate fixed expressions and modify them to create new layers of meaning in your work. This can add depth and creativity to your writing style.

Sources

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