Defining Ekphrasis
Ekphrasis – from The Poetry’s Foundations Glossary of Poetic Forms:
““Description” in Greek. An ekphrastic poem is a vivid description of a scene or, more commonly, a work of art. Through the imaginative act of narrating and reflecting on the “action” of a painting or sculpture, the poet may amplify and expand its meaning. A notable example is “Ode on a Grecian Urn,” in which the poet John Keats speculates on the identity of the lovers who appear to dance and play music, simultaneously frozen in time and in perpetual motion.”
Ekphrasis – from the Oxford Classical Dictionary, as defined by Michael Squire:
“Ekphrasis refers to the literary and rhetorical trope of summoning up—through words—an impression of a visual stimulus, object, or scene. As critical trope, the word ekphrasis (ἔκφρασις) is attested from the first century CE onwards: it is discussed in the Imperial Greek Progymnasmata, where it is defined as a “descriptive speech which brings the subject shown before the eyes with visual vividness.””
Ekphrasis – as defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary
ekphrasis (noun) ek·phra·sis ˈek-frə-səs
variants or less commonly: ecphrasis
plural ekphrases also ecphrases ˈek-frə-ˌsēz
Defined as: a literary description of or commentary on a visual work of art.
Further Information:
“Although "ekphrasis" (also spelled "ecphrasis") is a relatively new entry in our dictionary, the practice of using words to comment on a piece of visual art is an ancient one. One of the earliest and most commonly cited forms of ekphrasis occurs in The Iliad, when Homer provides a long and discursive account of the elaborate scenes embossed on the shield of Achilles. It should be no surprise, then, that the term ekphrasis derives from Greek, where it literally means "description" and was formed by combining the prefix ex- ("out") with the verb "phrazein" ("to point out or explain"). "Ekphrasis" first appeared in English in the early 18th century.”
Ekphrasis – as defined by the Oxford English Dictionary
Forms: 1600s– ecphrasis, 1900s– ekphrasis.
Origin: Of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from Latin. Partly a borrowing from Greek. Etymons: Latin ecphrasis; Greek ἔκϕρασις.
Etymology: < (i) post-classical Latin ecphrasis (15th cent.)
Defined as: Originally: an explanation or description of something, esp. as a rhetorical device. Now: specifically, a literary device in which a painting, sculpture, or other work of visual art is described in detail.
Sources Cited:
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). EKPHRASIS definition & meaning. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved April 19, 2023, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ekphrasis
Poetry Foundation. (n.d.). Ekphrasis. Poetry Foundation. Retrieved April 19, 2023, from https://www.poetryfoundation.org/learn/glossary-terms/ekphrasis
Simpson, J.A. & Weiner, E. S. C. (1989). The Oxford English Dictionary (2nd ed. / prepared by J.A. Simpson and E.S.C. Weiner.). Clarendon Press.
Squire, M. (2015, December 22). Ekphrasis. Oxford Classical Dictionary. Retrieved April 19, 2023, from https://oxfordre.com/classics/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.001.0001/acrefore-9780199381135-e-2365
“Defining Ekphrasis” by Caitlin Cacciatore is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.