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A lapdog's brainless zeal

The Entourage! Whence comes¹ such creatures so eager to abandon all pretense of the sedentary? One envisages haste of blubbering excitement, slippery gleam in the eye, a lapdog’s brainless zeal, as a canvas bag is stuffed full of slips and whatnot, with all the grace of a fakir backstage moments before performing before a gouty king. A whirlwind rush through rooms like shrines, and then out!

We get Flicker dropping back into his more heightened style, starting off with a declamation. Remember how we ended the last section

He would unveil himself in Farrog, and then they would all see. Calap Roud, that stunning watery-eyed dancer, Purse Snippet, and the Entourage too—

So this is very much an interruption. Previously we had Flicker placing himself inside Brash's head, until he mentions the Entourage, at which point he switches completely and breaks out into this much more heightened description.
Flicker is back in his picture-painting mode as well, as he imagines the backgrounds of these girls. The first sentence is posed as a question, but is really more of a statement. I love the phrase "abandon all pretense of the sedentary". They were clearly from a wealthy background, living a carefree life before, but now they've chosen to drop it all to follow (in this instance literally follow) their favorite artist.
He imagines the scenario surrounding their departure, with the "blubbering excitement", a "slippery gleam in the eye", and of course "a lapdog's brainless zeal". I'm curious about the "slippery" descriptor there. Especially when paired with the lapdog comment, it calls to mind a dog skidding and sliding on a slippery floor as they're completely unable to contain their excitement. Does anyone have a different reading?
Then they stuff a canvas bag full of slips (as in the clothing, not as in paper slips) and "whatnot", showing how they're clearly not thinking this through, but rather just throwing things in their bag and running out the door. I love the comparison to the fakir. First of all, it hearkens back to the Arabian Nights inspiration, while also giving us the image of a fakir rushing to get ready for his act, but more important is how it works as a metaphor.
The Entourage (who as we will soon learn are all young women) are here posed as a performer, performing in front of an old, fat, wealthy man. It really spotlights the power imbalance between them and their idol. Then we end the paragraph on a sentence that I'm having a really hard time figuring out. What is the significance of the rooms being like shrines? Shrines are (definitionally) places of worship. So it's like they're rushing past these places intended for worship in order to worship their idol, perhaps implying that it would have been more productive to stay and worship a real god. But these aren't shrines, but rather rooms like shrines, so it would be a worship of the home or something in that direction. I don't think this would imply a worship of domesticity, the metaphor is not fleshed out enough for that. I think it's simply saying that they should rather try to stay connected to their roots. I must say I'm not fully convinced by this reading. What do you all think?

Holding up a mirror

Pattering feet, a trio, all converging in unsightly gallop quick to feminize into a skip and prance once He Who Is Worshipped is in sight. The Entourage accompanies the Perfect Artist everywhere, gatherings great and small, public and intimate. They build the walls of the formidable, impregnable keep that is the Perfect Artist’s ego. They patrol the moat, flinging away all but the sweetest defecatory intimations of mortality. They stand sentinel in every postern gate, they gush down every sluice, they are the stained glass to paint rainbows upon their beloved’s perfectly turned profile.

I absolutely love this image we get here of these three girls "converging in unsightly gallop" with their "pattering feet". It's juxtaposing two images, one dainty and the other the exact opposite. If you've seen one of those videos of cows being released out to pasture after the winter, that's basically what I'm picturing. But as soon as they're in the presence of their idol they switch into an exaggeratedly feminine gait.
Then there's the intentionally vague description of their idol. We don't get the name, but he's called He Who Is Worshipped and the Perfect Artist. This is a reminder that we're not talking about particulars, but rather the general case, in particular how people behave in real life fandoms. Let's examine the rest of this paragraph while keeping in mind that this is Erikson is holding up a mirror to us. And you thought you were safe?
The Entourage is always where their artist is. I think this is especially true in the modern day where fans have practically unlimited access to their favourite artists. And they act as defenders of their artist, and notice how at no point here we get any sense that this Perfect Artist asked for any such thing. They build up their own unassailable version of their artist, and then dismiss any criticism except the most basic, toothless ones.
Finally we get these three statements, two quick ones, and a longer one. They "stand sentinel..." is essentially a continuation of the previous sentence. Then they "gush down every sluice". This is a strange turn of phrase to say the least. A sluice is of course a sort of water channel, and since we're in this castle metaphor, it's likely meant as a preventative measure against flooding. But it's not water that's the risk here, but the gushing of the fans.
And lastly they are the stained glass windows that "paint rainbows" on their idol (with a nice alliteration on perfectly and profile). I really like this one. They are not only viewing their idol through rose-tinted glass, but they have made themselves a piece of stained glass, that colors the artist in every color of the rainbow. They are creating a false, or at least exaggerated, image of the artist, and projecting that image to others as well. I think this whole description really mirrors how fanatically devoted some people can get around their favorite artist, and I don't think we should exclude ourselves from this.

Let's back up a little

But let us not snick and snack overmuch, for each life is a wonder unto itself, and neither contempt nor pity do a soul sound measures of health, lest some issue of envy squeeze free in unexpectedly public revelation. The object of this breathless admiration must wait for each sweet woman’s moment upon the stage in the bull’s eye lantern light of our examination.

Flicker yet again addresses the audience directly. The phrase "snick and snack" here is interesting. A snick can of course be a small cut, and there's definitely been enough of those so far. I think the snack is not intended to have a semantic meaning, but is rather intended to complement the onomatopoeic sound of snick. The word "overmuch" is also doing a lot of heavy lifting here. Some snicking and snacking is fine, but let's not get carried away.
The "each life is a wonder..." part is hilarious. This is definitely an example of overpraising, where Flicker uses hyperbolic language while implying a much more subdued meaning. He's now spent two whole paragraphs detailing how ridiculous and vapid the Entourage is, but now he's all "oh the miracle of life etc. etc." So even when he's talking about how he should stop mocking them, he continues the mockery. Absolutely savage.
He then encourages us to not view them with pity or contempt. Possibly because it would be condescending to do so. Certainly nobody likes being viewed that way, and Flicker claims that it is at best unhelpful to take those attitudes. I am a bit confused, however, about the mention of envy. Is Flicker saying that he is envious of them? Or is he warning us to not be envious? Is there a risk, when expressing pity or contempt, of appearing envious? Are the Entourage themselves envious when we do that? I admit I'm kind of lost here. What do you think?
Flicker ends by calling attention to the fact that we haven't really discussed the Entourage's Perfect Artist at all. He's been this remote figure this whole time, almost irrelevant to the conduct of his fans. Note also how he's called an "object". That word has been used once before in this story, and it was to describe the way Purse Snippet was viewed by Calap Roud. This is not an accident. FlickeErikson is saying that the way the Entourage views their Perfect Artist is not entirely dissimilar to the way Calap Roud, a disgusting old pervert, leers at a much younger woman. Again, this is not lust for the artist themself, but rather for the godlike image that the fans have constructed of the artist.
And before we can know that artist, we are going to be introduced to these three young women, each more ridiculous than the last, before we get to their Perfect Artist. Indeed, they must suffer the "bull's eye lantern light of our examination". This is a great description of what Flicker has been doing so far with his ruthless introduction. He also doesn't call it an interrogation or even a description. No, he's simply examining each of these characters, down to their core².
And that does it for this week's post. Next time we'll be discussing Sellup, the oldest member of the Entourage. See you all next week!
¹ I don't know exactly what to do with this seeming error. It strikes me as an editing artifact. That is, Erikson originally wrote this sentence differently, then changed the wording but forgot to change the whole sentence.
² And it's worth remembering that he may well be making all of this up.

Lonely seems fairly self-explanatory. I want my penguin, my swan, my lobster.
Lovely refers primarily to my physical characteristics, but also a bit to my kind and caring nature.
Literal is the way I both communicate and interpret communication. Subtext is often lost on me.
Loquacious means that it’s very hard to shut me up once I get going on the right subject with the right audience.
Literarily Inclined is a very fancy way of saying I read. A lot. No, I mean, a lot.
Lady just refers to my gender (AFAB/cisgender).
Looking For is simply, you know, seeking. Searching for. Trying to find.
Love, the epitome of what I want.
Now, beyond the allure of my alliteration...
I’m 25 years old and I live in the Midwestern area of the USA. I don’t particularly care where you live, as I’m only open to an online relationship until 2025 or so (because of both personal preference and life circumstances).
The written word is my biggest hobby, both reading and writing it. Despite my often overly logical brain, I usually prefer fiction over non-fiction, and fantasy in particular — it’s an escape of sorts that feels immersive and, well, magical (for lack of a better term).
I haven’t yet completed my undergraduate degree, but I’m working on it. That’s what I get for taking time off and switching majors twice, I suppose. I’d like to earn my Master’s degree someday, but I’m in no real rush for that.
I look like some sort of MPDG/ingenue crossover — I have a quirky, wide-eyed, unconventional prettiness.
I have some pets, and quite honestly, those are children enough for me. I don’t possess a mothering instinct for tiny humans.
The man I’m looking for is, in an ideal nutshell:

• 5-15 years my senior
• Looking for someone to commit to
• Athletic/attractive (hey, we all want a "spark")
• Compassionate towards others
• Not conservative or a cigarette smoker

I’d prefer someone who also shares my love of the written word and is familiar with neurodivergence, but those aren’t strictly necessary.
Thank you for reading all of this. Sincerely, it means a lot to me. Please send me a chat (preferred) or a message about yourself including, at a minimum, your age, your general location, and some defining characteristics about yourself. If I think we could be a good fit I’ll say hi in return.
Either way, have a nice rest of your week, and good luck on your journey ahead!

I'm gonna keep posting these until/unless someone stops me. Here's the names I would use for the 1980's Rivals + a bonus at the bottom. Across the board the 80's rivals have pretty good names, but most of them don't reflect on the characters of the girls. If I had been in charge of naming them, this is what I would come up with

Sumire Saitozaki

I like her name! In Japanese flower symbolism, violets (the Japanese word for which is sumire) represent sincerity and love, which works for a girl who's main defining characteristic is that she was in love with a boy. Saitozaki isn't a real name, but I constructed it from other names. Anyways, I would write it 寿 (su) meaning long life or longevity, 海 (umi) meaning ocean, 怜 (rei) meaning clever or affection, 佐 (sa) meaning to help or aide, 糸 (ito) meaning string, 崎 (zaki) meaning cape (the geographic feature, not the clothing item). 寿 meaning long life is meant to be ironic, 佐 is to reflect how she is the tutorial for the player and thereby helps them learn the game, and 糸 made me think of the red string of fate.

Kaguya Wakaizumi

Another good name! Sumire and Kaguya's are my favorite names of the 80's rivals. Both are real names, but Kaguya I combined kanji from different spellings. I'd write it 加 (ka) meaning to add or include, 紅 (gu) meaning red, 夜 (ya) meaning night, 若 (waka) meaning youth, 泉 (izumi) meaning spring or fountain. 加 was chosen because you help add her to the rainbow girls. It's a very dumb joke but I don't care.

Moeko Rakuyona

And here's where I started changing names again. Along with reflecting their personalities, I tried to reference their canon eliminations. Moeko became Renka Moekui, written 恋 (ren) meaning love, 火 (ka) meaning fire, 燃 (mo) meaning burn or ignite, 杭 (kui) meaning stake or pile. A pretty fiery name for our fiery tomboy. I also like that I flipped her english initials

Honami Hodoshima

Best girl of 80's mode, you can't change my mind. I renamed her Yumiko Tsubutaki: 読 (yo) meaning read or understand, 子 (ko) meaning girl or child, 潰 (tsubu) meaning crush or flatten, 滝 (taki) meaning rapids or waterfall. 読 is because she's a bookworm and 潰 is because she's canonically crushed by a bookcase

Sumiko Tachibana

Not my fave rival tbh, sporty girls aren't really my thing. But I came up with Sukone Dokujima, 健 (suko) meaning healthy or strong, 音 (ne) meaning sound, 毒 (doku) meaning poison, 島 (shima) meaning island

Ritsuko Chikanari

I do like Ritsuko though, she's so obnoxious, it's great. I decided to keep her first name because there were some great kanji that I could use to construct it, so she's Ritsuko Kozai. 璃 (ri) means jewel or crystal, 月 (tsuki) means moon, 子 (ko) means girl or child, 古 (ko) means old or ancient, 財 (zai) means money. 古財 is obviously meant to reflect her old money status, and 璃 just sounds fancy to mean- like she's a precious gemstone or something

Ai Doruyashi

I wanted to keep the pun, I really did, but no Japanese surnames I could find start with doru. If you haven't noticed before, aidoru is the english word idol, which is of course Ai's goal. I ended up constructing a brand new name from a few different names to make Ai Torurai: 愛 (ai) meaning love or affection, 伊 (i) being a third person pronoun (ie, him), 都 (to) meaning capital city, 丸 (maru) meaning round or circle, 電 (rai) meaning electricity. T's and d's sound similar so we get the near pun of aitoru

Teiko Nabatasai

Second best girl, you still can't change my mind. I named her Toshino Nadaka: 聡 (sato) meaning wise or quick learner, 乃 (no) being a second person pronoun (ie, you), 名 (na) meaning family name or reputation, 高 (taka) meaning high or excellent. Since her canon elimination is lowering her reputation, I wanted her name to reference being of high reputation or standing

Komako Funakoshi

For the resident yamato nadeshiko, I wanted a name that reflected her traditional attitude. I came up with Koyori Fukuwa: 心 (kokoro) meaning heart or spirit, 和 (wa) meaning peace or harmony, 福 (fuku) meaning good fortune and 和 (wa) again. The reason 和 is in both her names is that it's a character used to represent a very fundamental part of Japanese culture. I don't think I'm the right person to explain it as I only kinda understand it, but here's a website that talks about it. But it's very common to see 和 in words related to Japan, especially old or archaic words. With Komako/Koyori being an old fashioned girl, I thought it fit to have it in both names.

Chigusa Busujima

Busu is a word for ugly, and Chigusa was bullied for having an "ugly" name, according to dev. I wanted to keep that, and I also just like her first name, so I named her Chigusa Shikocha: 千 (chi) meaning one thousand, 草 (kusa) meaning grass or weed, 醜 (shiko) meaning ugly or unattractive, 茶 (cha) meaning tea or tea ceremony

Sonoko Sakanoe

I do like her name phonetically, but the spellings don't have much to do with her character. So, Satomi Sakagari: 悟 (sato) meaning to perceive or enlightenment, 実 (mi) meaning truth, 坂 (saka) meaning hill or incline, 狩 (kari) meaning hunt or chase. Obviously as a junior detective, she needs to be perceptive, so 悟, and she's trying to discover the truth, so 実. 狩 is because she's hunting Ryoba and 坂 is because... I dunno. It's a real name that contained 狩 and that's all I was looking for, with bonus points for keeping the alliteration. I guess you could argue it references the hill with the cherry tree?

Bonus Round: Ui Tunesu

Her name is derived from the Japanese pronunciation of the english word witness- wiitonesu- because she's based on the very old Witness-chan character. Ui is a real name but Tunesu isn't. In fact, tu isn't a naturally occurring sound in Japanese. I would name her Umi Tsunemi: 宇 (u) meaning space or universe, 見 (mi) meaning to see or look at, 常 (tsune) meaning always or usual, 察 (mi) meaning intuition or perception. 見察, as a bonus, is the word for witness

1. Simile: Her smile was as bright as the sun.
2. Metaphor: Time is a thief.
3. Hyperbole: I've told you a million times.
4. Personification: The wind whispered through the trees.
5. Alliteration: Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
6. Assonance: The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain.
7. Onomatopoeia: The bee buzzed around the garden.
8. Oxymoron: Deafening silence filled the room.
9. Irony: The fire station burned down.
10. Pun: I used to be a baker because I kneaded dough.
11. Euphemism: He passed away peacefully in his sleep.
12. Juxtaposition: The old house stood next to the modern skyscraper.
13. Anaphora: I have a dream...
14. Epiphora: Love, love, love – that's what it's all about.
15. Zeugma: He stole my heart and my wallet.
16. Chiasmus: You forget what you want to remember, and you remember what you want to forget.
17. Litotes: The test was not a total disaster.
18. Synecdoche: All hands on deck.
19. Antithesis: It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.
20. Paradox: Less is more.
21. Allegory: Animal Farm by George Orwell.
22. Metonymy: The White House issued a statement.
23. Sarcasm: Nice job on the presentation – if you were aiming for confusion.
24. Understatement: The hurricane disrupted some outdoor activities.
25. Cliché: Time heals all wounds.
26. Anthropomorphism: The clock seemed to mock him as it ticked away.
27. Symbolism: The dove is a symbol of peace.
28. Paronomasia: I used to be a baker because I kneaded dough.
29. Malapropism: I'm going to the store to buy some orangutans.
30. Homophone: They're going to their house over there.
31. Epanalepsis: Blood hath bought blood, and blows have answered blows.
32. Polyptoton: Love is not love which alters when it alteration finds.
33. Catachresis: I could feel the darkness wrapping its cold arms around me.
34. Epistrophe: See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.
35. Hypophora: What is the meaning of life? It's a question we all ponder.
36. Anadiplosis: The strength of the team is the team.
37. Ellipsis: Some people prefer cats; others, dogs.
38. Asyndeton: I came, I saw, I conquered.
39. Polysyndeton: They laughed and talked and danced and sang.
40. Enjambment: The moon was high, casting a silver glow on the water, as I walked along the shore.
41. Caesura: To be or not to be, that is the question.
42. Meiosis: It's just a scratch; I don't need a bandage.
43. Epizeuxis: Never, never, never give up.
44. Antimetabole: I know what I like, and I like what I know.
45. Aposiopesis: If you don't stop that, I'll—
46. Paralipsis: I won't mention his previous mistakes, but...
47. Hendiadys: Let's go for a walk and a talk.
48. Apophasis: I won't even mention the rumors about his past.
49. Prosopopoeia: The storm howled as if it were an angry beast.
50. Acrostic: Friends are the flowers in the garden of life.

Do siblings’ names need to ‘go together’ or match? No. What does it mean for names to go together? Spelling, origin, meaning, number of letters and syllables, invented by Shakespeare, matchy nicknames like Phil and Lil, the combinations and associations are endless.
I nerd out for the matchy in moderation names. I love nods to etymology or obscure references, let’s go for a combo.
We’re having one more at most after this first one, so we decided on two boy names and two girl names. Brooke Robin, Morgan Rose, Adam Edward, and Anthony Ryan.
One of the meanings of Morgan is ‘sea,’ and Brooke is obviously named after a Brook. I silently squee about the first names both meaning bodies of water.
Adam and Anthony start with the same letter, and while they have very different origins and histories, they both have very long histories. Anthony and Edward have matchy nickname potential with Tony and Teddy.
My husband has always been set on Ryan as a middle name, and then the middle names Ryan and Robin or Ryan and Rose start with the same letter, while the first initials are still different.
I adore nature names for girls, and I love word names as middle names because it kinda gives the first name a cool flair, so Rose and Robin as middle names ticks a lot of boxes for me.
And then there’s just a little alliteration and assonance that no one will ever care about lol. Brooke Robin, Morgan Rose, Adam Edward, Anthony Ryan. It just ties it all together in a neat bow for me.

Hi! I love the name Marie as a first name. Any suggestions for a middle name? I like the idea of an alliteration but definitely doesn't need to be! Thank you:)

Middle name for Lucy.
My husband and I are going to start trying for our second kid here in the next year or so. With our first, we waited until we were pregnant to pick a name and it was terrible. I was super hormonal and he hated every name. So, we decided to get the name out of the way beforehand. We already have a baby boy name picked and we’ve settled on Lucy for a girl. The problem is we can’t agree on a middle name.
I loved Lucy Loraine. He hates it, as well as most “L” names, except Lane/Laine. We’ve also considered Lucy Drew.
He’s vetoed Louise and Lynn, as well. I’m not stuck on the alliteration but I do think it sounds nice.
ETA: our first kid is Lincoln.

Hello! This is my first post, so I hope I’m doing this right. We have our second baby boy coming very (very) soon, and still can’t come to any agreement for a name. I’ve stooped to asking random children what names they like in an effort to find SOMETHING that clicks.
Our first son’s name is Magnus Michael, and I love it so much.
We have a last name starting with L and it is Swedish in origin, so we have been open to trying out Nordic names, but, again, nothing is clicking. My husband hasn’t been terribly on board with names starting with an L because of the alliteration.
Names that have been considered (and ultimately rejected by one or the other of us): Henrik Thaddeus Marcus Forrest Leif Harry Harvey Anders
We’d prefer it to not be something too popular, but I’m worried that we’re trying so hard to match Magnus that we are trending too far out in left field.
I feel so silly having to resort to reaching out like this, but after nine months my brain is fried and I’m about to give up!

There has been a lot of discourse surrounding the name and mascot vote for the team, and I wanted to lay out what I believe makes a good team name, as well as which of the popular choices best fit.
For this purpose, I’ll use the most common names I see thrown around as potential favorites from what was included in the official vote:

• Outlaws
• Mammoth
• Yeti
• Swarm
• Mountaineers
• Black Diamonds

1 The name should have ties to the location of the team

I understand that there are a number of teams that don’t have any connection to where they are based out of, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s a somewhat dumb argument to make. For the vast majority of teams, the name has some reason. It can be something historical like the Jazz being passed on from New Orleans and is now part of Utah’s history even though we don’t have a raging jazz scene. It can be tied in with the local wildlife or geographical surroundings of the area like the Coyotes were in Arizona. I could go on with more examples, but the point is:
We are choosing a new name to represent Utah’s NHL team, and that name should represent Utah.
From this requirement, we can narrow down the list to the following possible names:

• Outlaws - History of outlaws in Utah from Butch Cassidy to the Sundance Kid
• Mammoth - Mammoth remains have been found here
• Swarm - Known as the “Beehive State”
• Mountaineers - Mountains. Not really needing much of an explanation
• Black Diamonds - Known for skiing and snowboarding

2 The name should be unique to the major professional sports

I understand that some (looking at you Colorado) are up in arms about their precious Lacrosse teams that are already using the names Mammoth and Outlaws. Unfortunately, It’s going to be near impossible to find a name that is good, and hasn’t been used somewhere before. As long as we’re keeping it unique within the major leagues, it doesn’t really matter if some lacrosse, ultimate frisbee, or your cousin's little league team shares a name. The Utah NHL team would immediately become the most popular team with those names. The vast majority of people you’d ask would have never heard of any of those teams before. Not a knock on the sport itself, but sharing a name with a lacrosse team is an absolute non issue. It’s just not popular enough to make a difference. If anything, maybe it helps draw some attention to the existing team.
They left out names that people really like (Raptors) because it’s already in use for a large professional team. You have to draw the line somewhere, because it’s going to be too hard to have a 100% original name that checks all the boxes.
None of the names remaining are already in use among the 4 major leagues, so we can just move on.

3 The name should be cool and provide a unique branding opportunity

This one is more self explanatory. It can come down to opinion, but since it’s my post, I’ll give mine. I think all of these are unique, but Mountaineers feels like the branding would be easy to fall short. It has potential, but there’s also a chance to get something really boring and generic. The others feel more fool proof, so we’ll remove Mountaineers here.

• Outlaws
• Mammoth
• Swarm
• Black Diamonds

4 The name should flow of the tongue nicely

This one is an awkward one to qualify one name over the other. None of the remaining names have a real alliteration, Yeti being the closest as the start of Utah and Yeti have a similar sound. Utah Outlaws has a near rhyme with the -ah and -law.
While those fit the best, I don’t feel that any are serious offenders of coming out of the mouth awkwardly. For the sake of narrowing the list down, I’ll remove Black Diamonds since it’s just a little bit of a mouthful.
This leaves the list here, with Outlaws having a slight edge in this category:

• Outlaws
• Mammoth
• Swarm

From here, it’s just a matter of choosing your favorite of the remaining names.
The last point really could be finding the name that feels the most "classic". New team names usually stand out from the rest of the league that has old names, established in history. Look at the Oilers compared to the Kraken. It doesn't quite feel right.
To me, Swarm sounds a little XFL/WNBAish. I wouldn’t hate it, but I think it’s the worst of the remaining names.
Mammoth is cool and fits the “cold” theme that they are apparently in love with based off the other names, but the name that I feel check all of the boxes the best is clearly Outlaws.
Classic sounding name with historical ties to Utah, feels like it should already be a team in one of the 4 major leagues but is somehow still available to be claimed and uniquely used, is easy and cool branding, and rhymes with Utah to make it come off the tongue easily. It can also be shortened to “Laws” which is equally cool.
Please vote accordingly.
Tl;dr There are some decent options, but Outlaws checks all the boxes.

1. Simile:
Definition: A figure of speech that compares two different things using the words "like" or "as."
Example: The night sky was like a vast canvas, scattered with stars as bright as diamonds.
2. Metaphor:
Definition: A figure of speech that implies a comparison between two unrelated things, stating that one thing is another.
Example: Time is a thief, silently stealing moments from our lives.
3. Hyperbole:
Definition: A figure of speech involving exaggerated statements not meant to be taken literally.
Example: The suitcase weighed a ton, making it nearly impossible to carry.
4. Understatement:
Definition: A figure of speech where a writer deliberately represents something as much less than it actually is.
Example: The storm brought a bit of rain; nothing too major, just a small flood in the living room.
5. Personification:
Definition: A figure of speech where human qualities are attributed to non-human entities.
Example: The wind whispered secrets through the ancient trees.
6. Assonance:
Definition: The repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words in a sentence.
Example: The melody of the evening breeze gently swept through the fields of wheat.
7. Onomatopoeia:
Definition: The use of words that imitate the sound they describe.
Example: The door creaked open, and footsteps echoed in the empty hallway.
8. Alliteration:
Definition: The repetition of initial consonant sounds in neighboring words.
Example: The playful puppy pranced through the park, chasing butterflies.
*9. Oxymoron:
Definition: A figure of speech that combines contradictory terms.
Example: The comedian's humor was both dark and lighthearted, creating an unsettling joy.
10. Irony:
Definition: A figure of speech in which words express a meaning opposite to their literal interpretation.
Example: The fire station burned down while the firefighters were on vacation—what a twist of irony.
11. Pun:
Definition: A play on words that have multiple meanings or sound similar but have different meanings.
Example: Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.
12. Juxtaposition:
Definition: Placing two elements side by side to present a contrast.
Example: In the bustling city, the serene park offered a juxtaposition of tranquility amid the urban chaos.
13. Synecdoche:
Definition: A figure of speech where a part represents the whole or the whole represents a part.
Example: "All hands on deck" implies the need for the assistance of the entire crew.
14. Metonymy:
Definition: A figure of speech where one term is substituted with another closely related term.
Example: The White House issued a statement on the recent policy changes.
15. Zeugma:
Definition: A figure of speech where a word applies to multiple parts of the sentence.
Example: She stole both his wallet and his heart that fateful night.
16. Epiphora:
Definition: The repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses.
Example: The forest was mysterious, the mountains were majestic, and the rivers were enchanting.
17. Euphemism:
Definition: Substituting a mild, indirect, or vague term for a harsh or blunt one.
Example: She passed away peacefully in her sleep, euphemizing the concept of death.
18. Anthimeria:
Definition: The use of a word in a grammatical form it doesn't usually take.
Example: She bookmarked the page to return to the thrilling story later.
19. Chiasmus:
Definition: A figure of speech in which the order of terms in one of the clauses is inverted in the other.
Example: "Do I love you because you're beautiful, or are you beautiful because I love you?" - Cinderella
20. Allusion:
Definition: A brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing, or idea of historical, cultural, literary, or political significance.
Example: His ambition was Caesar-like; he aimed to conquer not only Rome but the hearts of its people.
21. Allegory:
Definition: A narrative in which characters and events represent abstract ideas or moral qualities . Example: Orwell's "Animal Farm" serves as an allegory for political corruption and the abuse of power.
22. Metonymy:
Definition: A figure of speech in which one word or phrase is substituted with another closely associated with it.
Example: The pen is mightier than the sword, emphasizing the power of the written word over physical force.
23. Sarcasm:
Definition: The use of irony to mock or convey contempt.
Example: "Nice job on the presentation," she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm as the audience chuckled.
24. Understatement:
Definition: A figure of speech where a writer deliberately represents something as much less than it actually is.
Example: The mountain climber faced a slight challenge as he ascended Everest, navigating only a few treacherous crevices.
25. Cliché:
Definition: An expression or idea that has become overused to the point of losing its original meaning.
Example: The detective followed the suspect's trail like a bloodhound, relying on the cliché methods of his trade. *

1. Imagery: Prompt: Choose a setting (real or imaginary) and describe it using detailed sensory imagery. Imagine the sights, sounds, smells, and textures to create a vivid scene, just like a painter with words.
   
2. Metaphor: Prompt: Compare a personal experience to an everyday object or phenomenon in an unexpected way. For example, "My heart is a compass that always points to the north of your laughter."
   
3. Simile: Prompt: Write a series of similes to express intense emotions. For instance, "As brave as a lion facing the storm, as fragile as a petal in the wind."
   
4. Rhyme: Prompt: Craft a short poem or lyrics with a consistent rhyme scheme. Experiment with different rhyme patterns (ABAB, AABB, etc.) to enhance the musicality of your writing.
   
5. Meter: Prompt: Compose a poem with a specific meter, such as iambic pentameter. Pay attention to the syllabic beats in each line to create a rhythmic flow.
   
6. Alliteration: Prompt: Create a tongue-twisting line using alliteration. Focus on the repetition of initial consonant sounds to add a playful or musical quality to your writing.
   
7. Assonance: Prompt: Write a passage where the vowel sounds within words echo each other. Experiment with different vowel combinations to create a melodic effect.
   
8. Personification: Prompt: Choose an inanimate object and personify it. Describe its actions, thoughts, and emotions as if it were a living being.
   
9. Symbolism: Prompt: Select an object or element and explore its symbolic meaning. Connect it to broader themes or emotions in your writing.
   
10. Enjambment: Prompt: Write a poem where the thoughts flow continuously from one line to the next without a pause. Explore how this technique can create a sense of movement or urgency.
    
11. Repetition: Prompt: Repeat a word or phrase throughout a poem for emphasis. Consider how repetition can enhance the overall impact and meaning of your writing.
    
12. Free Verse: Prompt: Embrace the freedom of expression by writing a poem without adhering to rhyme or meter. Allow your thoughts to flow organically, exploring the beauty of formless verse.
    
13. Stanza: Prompt: Divide your writing into stanzas to create distinct sections with varying themes or tones. Explore how the organization of lines contributes to the overall structure of your work.
    
14. Theme: Prompt: Choose a universal theme (love, loss, freedom, etc.) and explore it through your lyrics. Delve into the nuances and perspectives associated with the chosen theme.
    
15. Tone: Prompt: Write a poem that conveys contrasting tones. Explore how shifts in tone can evoke different emotions and responses from the reader.
    
16. Connotation: Prompt: Select a word with strong connotations and use it in a poem. Explore the emotional baggage and cultural associations tied to the word within the context of your writing.
    
17. Irony: Prompt: Craft a poem with elements of irony. Create situations or lines that convey a meaning opposite to the literal interpretation, adding layers of complexity to your writing.
    
18. Allusion: Prompt: Reference a well-known song, book, or historical event in your lyrics. Explore how the use of allusion can enrich the depth and meaning of your writing.
    
19. Syntax: Prompt: Experiment with sentence structure to create different effects. Play with word order, sentence length, and punctuation to convey specific emotions or rhythms in your writing.
    
20. Diction: Prompt: Choose a specific mood or atmosphere you want to convey and carefully select words that evoke that feeling. Pay attention to the impact of your word choices on the overall tone of your writing.
    

Hi! I work for AQA as a senior examiner (Lit Paper 2, but I have marked Paper 1 and the way they are marked is essentially the same), and thought you might appreciate a few tips. Most of it is probably stuff you already know, but if this can help anyone for the exam, then it's worth typing up.
Assessment Objectives Thought it might be best to start with an overview of the AOs. AO1 refs (6 marks) - this is how well you have used references in your answer AO1 task (6 marks) - this is how well you have answered the question as a whole. If you don't refer to both the extract and the whole text, you can only get 2 marks for this AO. AO2 (12 marks) - this is how well you have analysed language methods, such as metaphor, simile, personification, alliteration, characterisation, single words, symbolism etc, as well as structural methods, such as rhythm, rhyme, iambic pentameter, order of events, caesura etc. (note: you DO NOT have to do BOTH language AND structure) AO3 (6 marks) - this is your understanding of the writers' ideas and the context in which the text was written / set AO4 (4 marks) - this will only be given for the Shakespeare section and is your spelling, punctuation and grammar.
Start with a thesis statement A thesis is an argument that you pose, and you then spend the rest of the essay proving why you are right. Let's say you get a question about how Shakespeare presents Romeo as a character who is passionate. You can spend your whole essay showing and explaining the ways in which Romeo is passionate, but that wouldn't be a thesis; Romeo's passion is a given, so it's no challenge to give examples of it. What isn't a given is the purpose of Romeo's passion. So for this question, your thesis could be: Romeo's passion, and his inability to control and contain it, is what makes him responsible for most of the bad things that happen in the play. You'd want to extend on that a little in the first paragraph, but that would be a good start to a thesis statement. Another thesis statement that would work for this question is: Romeo's passion comes from the deep love that he is capable of, and this love is ultimately a healing force that works for the good of the community and teaches us a lesson about the power of love and the evils of hatred. Both of these statements are very different - one sets out to argue that Romeo's passion is a negative thing, whilst the other presents it as a positive. Either of these could be argued in a convincing way. Some good sentence starters for thesis statements are: - In this text, we go on a journey of understanding that... - We are prompted to consider the universal concepts of... (universal concepts could be life, death, love, relationships, family, order, chaos etc, and LOADS more) - We are made to think about the duality of... (love/hate, chaos/order, old/young, innocence/experience etc) - By the end of the text, we learn / understand / are left questioning...
Use the extract for AO2 AO2 - the analysis of writers' methods - is one of the most commonly missed assessment objectives in both Lit papers. It's also the one with the most weight - you get a potential 12 marks for this AO, so that's what you lose if you forget it. But on Paper 1, you have an advantage - there is an extract right there in front of you, and there will 100% be a method in there that you can use. This will save you the trouble of having to remember a specific metaphor, simile or personification to analyse in your answer. If you struggle to find methods, then there are a couple of workarounds to access AO2. The first is to pick a single word from the extract that you've been given, and analyse the heck out of it. For example, Macduff refers to Macbeth as a "hell-hound". This word (or words) is perfect for single word analysis because of the connotations of "hell"; it emphasises evil, it connects to Christian ideas about morality, and plays on the superstitions of the audience. When connected with the word "hound", we can interpret Macbeth's status (in Macduff's eyes) as a servant of the devil, a mindless creature, and we see him stripped of his humanity by being referred to as a savage animal. Because of the religious implications, you can also link all of this to the witches. Another way to ensure that you include AO2 is to write about characters as tools that the writer is using. For example, you could speak about how the creature in Frankenstein is used to explore ideas about the nature of humanity, specifically ideas about isolation and love. The key word here is "used". If you can speak about the characters as a tool that the writer is using to explore ideas, to illicit a reponse from the audience, to send a message, to make the audience think or consider new concepts, then you are in AO2 territory.
AO3 This is another commonly missed assessment objective. AO3 is all about context, but that doesn't just mean the stuff that was going on at the time the text was written. Sure, that is part of it, but another is the writer's ideas. This is something that you can put in your thesis statement. Consider what the writer is trying to teach the audience. Think how this might translate to an audience in 2024. For example, A Christmas Carol is a text about morality. Dickens wants us to consider how we can be better human beings and work towards a better future by showing kindness to others, by sharing our wealth, and by recognising that those who are less fortunate than us are not always to blame for their circumstances in life. He communicates these ideas through the theme of Christmas to remind people of their Christian faith, values and obligations: to love your fellow man, to look after your neighbour, to be generous of spirit. All of this is fantastic AO3 stuff.
Literally, Metaphorically, Symbolically Some of you may have used this before, but I find it a useful tool for getting my students to squeeze as much as they can out of a reference. When you use a reference (AO2 or not, doesn't matter), you can first explore the literal meaning, which means to take the words at their most basic meaning. Then, you look at the figurative meaning, what is implied. Lastly, you take the reference out of the context of the text and think of the symbolic meaning. This is an excellent way to include AO3. Here's an example: Romeo refers to Juliet as an "angel". Literally, this means that she is a creature from heaven, and a servant of God himself. Metaphorically, we can interpret this as meaning that Romeo regards her as something pure and holy, something that cannot be corrupted. According to the Bible and religious belief at the time, angels spoke truth and were creatures of great beauty, which tells us the high regard in which Romeo holds Juliet. She is perfect to him. It could also mean that he believes she has been sent to him from God, in much the same way that angels were sent to Earth to spread God's word, so he perhaps views her as a gift or a blessing. Symbolically, we understand from Romeo's use of the word "angel" that the love he has for Juliet is good and pure, which links to the message that Shakespeare had for his audiences regarding the power of love and the pitfalls of hatred. If we are able to understand that Romeo and Juliet's love is pure, then we are much more likely to sympathise with them and support their struggle against the toxic patriarchcal system that drives them apart. By the same token, we can understand that this system is corrupt, evil and destructive. If we do gain this understanding, then by the end of the play, we are likely to have learnt the lesson that Shakespeare is trying to teach us.
References don't have to be quotations One of the assessment objectives is AO1 refs (short for references). But references do not have to be direct quotations. For example, if you want to talk about the death of Macbeth, you don't have to sit in the exam hall desperately searching your brain for the exact words from that moment. Simply saying "When Macbeth dies..." is enough as a reference. You can use this for analysis, too, for example: Mercutio's death is a turning point in the play because... Mercutio's death represents... Mercutio's death shows us... In fact, that particular example verges on AO2, as well, as it talks about an event in the play which acts as a trigger / catalyst for what happens next. This is probably a good time to tell you that AO2 can also be marked as AO1 refs, but this is not always true the other way around.
Conclusions are not necessary Don't waste your time repeating yourself, which is what often happens with a conclusion. You don't have the time for that. Set out your thesis, and provide multiple examples of how your thesis is correct. Then finish.
Do not retell the story We know the story. Please don't waste your time retelling it. You have far more important things to write about than regurgitating a story we already know. Focus on analysis.
I hope this helps a bit. If you have any questions, feel free to ask them. I will do my best to help you. Good luck!

Having a baby boy with the last name Badden. We have some names that we've narrowed down to but are open to ideas and your favourites!

1. Ryan Badden - love this but concerned that it sounds a bit strange both ending in "N". Is it dated now?
2. Miles Badden
3. Brody Badden - do we like the alliteration or dislike?
4. Henry Badden

Open to other names. Looking for something strong and timeless if possible.
Let us know!!

CDAN 5.10.24

Blind Item #4
All told there are just five hours of activities spread over the time period the alliterate one and her husband will be in country. What really is the point? Oh yeah, the locally "sourced" coffee that will soon be in a gift basket headed to people who really don't want it.

From the Comments:

image

At this point I'm convinced she's using Rent the Runway and similar services to rent designer clothes that she can't actually afford, which is why they're never hemmed properly and always mildly ill-fitting, because she can't alter them. Plus, seconding the horror show that is her wearing a backless, sleeveless dress that is somehow simultaneously sloppy-looking and too fancy to visit a girls' school where the girls are all in lovely tailored uniforms. She's dressed for some sort of tacky American garden party. Honestly, I'm befuddled at her choices.

Will Megan be gifting the rest of the strawberry jam to the Nigerian people, I wonder?

Rent a Royal gig?

Wait ! You said they're only doing 5 hours of blah fake work ? 3 days at starving Nigerians expenses and 2 days of that is for her to source coffee for her shop? She's more a drug cartels dream for trafficking a cross nations. I'm going with that

ETA: Disclaimer: Any posting from CDAN or Enty is for entertainment purposes and the Harkle tea. I am not endorsing Enty or his site. I am not making any statement of veracity of the tea or of Enty... This is not about Enty, but the gruesome twosome...

If so, well?
I assume if you like DOOM and rap:
-you have a similar love for and mastery of language -and alliteration -and double/triple/quadruple entendres -you can pick a beat -you are hilarious or at the very least clever -you aren't doing some pandering/commercial or tough guy (c)rap
Gauntlet thrown, anyone doing DOOM proud in this sub? If so, prove it.

Like a lot of other people I was awaiting the Delphi murders trial, this despite the warnings I heard from wiser individuals who knew better, those who could foresee the stall tactic antics disguised as legal wranglings. And while I was waiting around, I was reading a lot--specifically about the motivations of murder because I am a bit masochistic. I obsess over the why?
According to Peter Morrall, a famous British crime lecturer and professor of sociology, I have been overthinking my obsession this entire time. Apparently the question of why someone murders another someone has a very simple formula:

• Lust
• Love
• Loathing
• Loot

If Morrall is correct, every murder in the world has been committed within the parameters of the above alliteration. The formula applies as much to the wife who poisons her husband so she can absorb all the proceeds of his life insurance, as it does to the armed robber who murders a clerk in a convenience store robbery gone bad, as it does to a sibling killing another sibling, as it does to the serial killer who stalks redlight districts for sex workers, as it does to the murder of Abigail Williams and Liberty German.
If RA is the murderer of Abby and Libby, many believe he is either a serial killer or a burgeoning one. If not, he's most likely a one and done with serial killer traits, his long overdue detection owing as much to his disguise, a mask of normalcy and ordinariness, as it does to an alleged filing mistake made by law enforcement.
This hiding in plain sight is a phenomenon known as the banality of evil--a phrase that was first used to describe Adolph Eichmann, the logistical coordinator of the Holocaust. The guy was as dull as a doorknob, something that haunted those who hunted him as much as anything else. How could such a chinless wonder be responsible for the deaths of millions?
Similarly, RA lived a quiet middle class life with his wife of many years and their purportedly well adjusted daughter; he worked as a pharmacy tech and shift manager. These are the environmental factors cited most by those who proclaim his innocence.
Yet many of the same individuals who cannot fathom the unassuming pharmacy-tech as a murderer have no problem ticking off a list of superficially well adjusted killers like Ted Bundy, Dennis Radar, Wayne Williams, John Gacy and Gary Ridgway--all who notoriously hid and killed in plain sight. (That, and no one but the good Lord and the Allen's really know what went on behind their own closed doors.)
Although motive does not have to be proven in a court of law, it is an essential element to understanding how a man like RA could kill two teenage girls. And though the how is tangled up and often deemed interchangeable with the why, the latter part of the question may never be satisfactorily answered or completely understood if it is, despite Peter Morrall's more straightforward formula.
​

Previous post

The upstart

Arch rival to Calap Roud was the illimitable, ambitious, inexcusably young Brash Phluster. That he delighted in the old bastard’s presence on this journey could hardly be refuted, for Brash so wanted Calap to witness youth’s triumph in Farrog. With luck, it would kill him.

Next on the chopping block is Brash Phluster, and what a masterpiece that name is. Brash means many things, including overly confident and lacking respect. Clearly that's how Calap views him at least. And Phluster just looks so much funnier than "fluster". It's as subtle as a brick to the face, but we really get everything we need to know about Brash from just the name.
Note that like with Purse we begin Brash's introduction by pointing out his relationship with Calap Roud. But whereas Purse was Calap's object of lust, Brash is his nemesis. We get a list of Brash's characteristics. He is illimitable, ambitious, and inexcusably young. This is definitely describing Brash as Calap sees him. The tell is the "inexcusably young" bit, but we also see a subtle jab with the way Flicker uses both illimitable and ambitious, words that have very similar meanings. He's definitely imitating Calap here, so it's like he's so incensed at Brash that he's stumbling for whatever word he can find. And accidentally goes for two words that mean basically the same thing.
Then we get Brash being happy at Calap's presence, which makes us think that perhaps the rivalry is one sided. But then we see that it's just because Brash wants to rub it in Calap's face, so the rivalry is definitely a thing. And finally there's the hope that Calap's defeat would kill him. So there's clearly an underlying hatred that runs deeper than a normal rivalry. The rivalry also seems to be generational. Brash represents the younger generation of artists, and he sees this as a conflict between young and old.

Fake it 'til you make it

Seven years Calap had been defecating on Brash, trying to keep him down on the crusty floor, but Brash was not one to let a rain of guano discourage his destiny. He knew he was brilliant in most things, and where he lacked brilliance he could fill those spaces with bold bluster and entirely unfounded arrogance. A sneer was as good as an answer. A writhe of the lip could slice throats across the room. He eyed Calap as would a wolf eye a dog, appalled at a shared pedigree and determined to tear the sad thing to pieces at the first opportunity.

We continue with the Calap/Brash beef, bringing back the metaphor from Calap's introduction with the gilded cage. There we got a brief mention of the "white-headed fools" that Calap shat on, and now we learn that Brash was indeed one of those fools. The imagery here is absolutely foul, with the floor crusted with bird shit and the rain of guano. There's a really nice alliteration here too. We get "defecating" and "down", and then a bit later "discourage" and "destiny". I love how it's all these really negative and nasty words, before flipping it with "destiny".
Flicker is definitely putting himself in Brash's head as he's done many times before, as we get this view of his inflated self image. We get a lot of Bs and Ls here with two instances of "brilliant" before we get "bold bluster". I love how he seems to be just blatantly in fake-it-until-you-make-it mode. And then Flicker dips out of Brash's head to provide his own commentary with "entirely unfounded arrogance".
And then we continue with Flicker giving his not-quite-charitable reading of Brash's character with this quick flurry of sentences. When confronted, Brash doesn't really respond, but just pretends like answering is beneath him. Like Calap he's willing to play the social game in order to get ahead. And that is made clear with the comparison. They're different, but also in some fundamental way they "share the same pedigree", which I think is their mutual willingness to pull all sorts of dirty tricks to get rid of rivals. And Brash is ready to do just that to Calap.

Master of disguises

True talent was found in the successful disguise of genius, and Brash accounted himself a master of disguises. His future was glory, but he would reveal not a single hint, not one that some cragged critic¹ or presumptuous rival might close in on, stoat fangs bared. No, they could dismiss him each and every day for the time being. He would unveil himself in Farrog, and then they would all see. Calap Roud, that stunning watery-eyed dancer, Purse Snippet, and the Entourage too—

Right off the bat I want to say that I love this first sentence. Flicker mentioned Brash's fake-it-until-you-make-it attitude in the previous paragraph, but here we get a hint that perhaps Brash is faking more than he'd care to admit. But he doesn't care, because he's so confident in his disguises.
Erikson has on many occasions remarked upon (and lamented) that many authors are incredibly secretive about their craft. He's mentioned authors on panels whose answers amount to basically just an advertisement for their book rather than an examination of their process. I think here he is poking fun at that attitude. Brash is established as being extremely tight lipped, because he doesn't want the critics or his competitors to find out his secret sauce. Admittedly, since he's traveling with Calap Roud that attitude may not be simple paranoia.
I also love that he calls his rivals stoats, calling back to the weasel analogy from a few weeks ago. Stoats are of course² a kind of weasel (or at least a weasel-like mammal). So we're still not letting go of these metaphors.
We also get a glance at the way Brash is seen by others. He's dismissed by them. Clearly, Brash thinks they're underestimating him, but are they? We'll find out in time when we get some of Brash's poetry. The alliteration here is also nice, with each and every framed by dismiss and day.
He ends with a declaration that he's not even begun to peak. That he's saving the best for last, and he's savoring that. He mentions Calap Roud, who he wants to destroy, and Purse Snippet who he likely wants to impress. Here we also see the difference between Flicker and Brash in action. Flicker saw through to the core of Purse's being. Brash, on the other hand, just sees a pretty dancer. He even notes that her eyes are always watery, but he doesn't even seem to consider that they might be like that for a reason.
And finally, the Entourage...
But we'll get to them next time. That's it for Brash's introduction. See you next week!
¹ There's some nice alliteration here. The word "cragged", itself onomatopoeic, adds that onomatopoeia to the word "critic".
² I say as if I didn't have to look that up myself

1. Simile: Her smile was as bright as the sun.
2. Metaphor: Time is a thief.
3. Hyperbole: I've told you a million times.
4. Personification: The wind whispered through the trees.
5. Alliteration: Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
6. Assonance: The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain.
7. Onomatopoeia: The bee buzzed around the garden.
8. Oxymoron: Deafening silence filled the room.
9. Irony: The fire station burned down.
10. Pun: I used to be a baker because I kneaded dough.
11. Euphemism: He passed away peacefully in his sleep.
12. Juxtaposition: The old house stood next to the modern skyscraper.
13. Anaphora: I have a dream...
14. Epiphora: Love, love, love – that's what it's all about.
15. Zeugma: He stole my heart and my wallet.
16. Chiasmus: You forget what you want to remember, and you remember what you want to forget.
17. Litotes: The test was not a total disaster.
18. Synecdoche: All hands on deck.
19. Antithesis: It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.
20. Paradox: Less is more.
21. Allegory: Animal Farm by George Orwell.
22. Metonymy: The White House issued a statement.
23. Sarcasm: Nice job on the presentation – if you were aiming for confusion.
24. Understatement: The hurricane disrupted some outdoor activities.
25. Cliché: Time heals all wounds.
26. Anthropomorphism: The clock seemed to mock him as it ticked away.
27. Symbolism: The dove is a symbol of peace.
28. Paronomasia: I used to be a baker because I kneaded dough.
29. Malapropism: I'm going to the store to buy some orangutans.
30. Homophone: They're going to their house over there.
31. Epanalepsis: Blood hath bought blood, and blows have answered blows.
32. Polyptoton: Love is not love which alters when it alteration finds.
33. Catachresis: I could feel the darkness wrapping its cold arms around me.
34. Epistrophe: See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.
35. Hypophora: What is the meaning of life? It's a question we all ponder.
36. Anadiplosis: The strength of the team is the team.
37. Ellipsis: Some people prefer cats; others, dogs.
38. Asyndeton: I came, I saw, I conquered.
39. Polysyndeton: They laughed and talked and danced and sang.
40. Enjambment: The moon was high, casting a silver glow on the water, as I walked along the shore.
41. Caesura: To be or not to be, that is the question.
42. Meiosis: It's just a scratch; I don't need a bandage.
43. Epizeuxis: Never, never, never give up.
44. Antimetabole: I know what I like, and I like what I know.
45. Aposiopesis: If you don't stop that, I'll—
46. Paralipsis: I won't mention his previous mistakes, but...
47. Hendiadys: Let's go for a walk and a talk.
48. Apophasis: I won't even mention the rumors about his past.
49. Prosopopoeia: The storm howled as if it were an angry beast.
50. Acrostic: Friends are the flowers in the garden of life.

1. Simile:
Definition: A figure of speech that compares two different things using the words "like" or "as."
Example: The night sky was like a vast canvas, scattered with stars as bright as diamonds.
2. Metaphor:
Definition: A figure of speech that implies a comparison between two unrelated things, stating that one thing is another.
Example: Time is a thief, silently stealing moments from our lives.
3. Hyperbole:
Definition: A figure of speech involving exaggerated statements not meant to be taken literally.
Example: The suitcase weighed a ton, making it nearly impossible to carry.
4. Understatement:
Definition: A figure of speech where a writer deliberately represents something as much less than it actually is.
Example: The storm brought a bit of rain; nothing too major, just a small flood in the living room.
5. Personification:
Definition: A figure of speech where human qualities are attributed to non-human entities.
Example: The wind whispered secrets through the ancient trees.
6. Assonance:
Definition: The repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words in a sentence.
Example: The melody of the evening breeze gently swept through the fields of wheat.
7. Onomatopoeia:
Definition: The use of words that imitate the sound they describe.
Example: The door creaked open, and footsteps echoed in the empty hallway.
8. Alliteration:
Definition: The repetition of initial consonant sounds in neighboring words.
Example: The playful puppy pranced through the park, chasing butterflies.
*9. Oxymoron:
Definition: A figure of speech that combines contradictory terms.
Example: The comedian's humor was both dark and lighthearted, creating an unsettling joy.
10. Irony:
Definition: A figure of speech in which words express a meaning opposite to their literal interpretation.
Example: The fire station burned down while the firefighters were on vacation—what a twist of irony.
11. Pun:
Definition: A play on words that have multiple meanings or sound similar but have different meanings.
Example: Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.
12. Juxtaposition:
Definition: Placing two elements side by side to present a contrast.
Example: In the bustling city, the serene park offered a juxtaposition of tranquility amid the urban chaos.
13. Synecdoche:
Definition: A figure of speech where a part represents the whole or the whole represents a part.
Example: "All hands on deck" implies the need for the assistance of the entire crew.
14. Metonymy:
Definition: A figure of speech where one term is substituted with another closely related term.
Example: The White House issued a statement on the recent policy changes.
15. Zeugma:
Definition: A figure of speech where a word applies to multiple parts of the sentence.
Example: She stole both his wallet and his heart that fateful night.
16. Epiphora:
Definition: The repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses.
Example: The forest was mysterious, the mountains were majestic, and the rivers were enchanting.
17. Euphemism:
Definition: Substituting a mild, indirect, or vague term for a harsh or blunt one.
Example: She passed away peacefully in her sleep, euphemizing the concept of death.
18. Anthimeria:
Definition: The use of a word in a grammatical form it doesn't usually take.
Example: She bookmarked the page to return to the thrilling story later.
19. Chiasmus:
Definition: A figure of speech in which the order of terms in one of the clauses is inverted in the other.
Example: "Do I love you because you're beautiful, or are you beautiful because I love you?" - Cinderella
20. Allusion:
Definition: A brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing, or idea of historical, cultural, literary, or political significance.
Example: His ambition was Caesar-like; he aimed to conquer not only Rome but the hearts of its people.
21. Allegory:
Definition: A narrative in which characters and events represent abstract ideas or moral qualities . Example: Orwell's "Animal Farm" serves as an allegory for political corruption and the abuse of power.
22. Metonymy:
Definition: A figure of speech in which one word or phrase is substituted with another closely associated with it.
Example: The pen is mightier than the sword, emphasizing the power of the written word over physical force.
23. Sarcasm:
Definition: The use of irony to mock or convey contempt.
Example: "Nice job on the presentation," she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm as the audience chuckled.
24. Understatement:
Definition: A figure of speech where a writer deliberately represents something as much less than it actually is.
Example: The mountain climber faced a slight challenge as he ascended Everest, navigating only a few treacherous crevices.
25. Cliché:
Definition: An expression or idea that has become overused to the point of losing its original meaning.
Example: The detective followed the suspect's trail like a bloodhound, relying on the cliché methods of his trade. *

I sat down with my morning coffee and opened my email. It was bursting at the seams as usual.
I clicked on the first link and started skimming through its contents.
I grew up in a haunted house… normally used to this stuff… this was the first time I was ever scared.
Interesting.
There was a video file attached. I clicked on it.
It was a video from a doorbell camera. The video feed looked out onto a beautiful wrap-around porch complete with flower boxes and an American flag blowing in the evening breeze. A few bugs flittered by, but I couldn’t see why I had been sent the video. Then I saw it.
Just barely visible in the darkness, peeking from behind the flower boxes was a face. It didn’t move, you’d think it might be a statue by how still it was, and although about 75% of the face was obscured by the flower box, I could tell it wasn’t human. The skin looked rough, like papier-mâché and the proportions were off. It was a bit uncanny.
The wind blew the flowers in the flower box revealing slightly more of the face. One of the face’s large, unblinking eyes was exposed. Like I said, the proportions were off. It was too big, with no lashes or brow, just a giant white circle with a smaller black circle in the middle. It looked almost cartoony. It started directly into the camera. I started to think someone had just placed a creepy mask in front of the camera until I saw it blink.
A shiver ran up my spine and I had to turn around to check my own surroundings. I have to do that sometimes when I get scared. Just a habit from childhood.
When I turned back to the video screen the face was gone. The video clip ended a few seconds later.
Nope, hell nah. I am not getting involved with whatever that was.
I send a message back:
Heyyyy,
Yuck! Pretty weird, but I can’t help with that, sorry! Maybe try the police?
I opened the next email.
We have something in our house. I can’t sleep. I’m worried for the safety of my daughter.
Blah blah blah.
Another video file was attached.
The video was from a mother’s cell phone as she crept silently through a house. She arrived outside of a bedroom door decorated with unicorns and a sign that read, “Sarah’s room,” in bold letters under which another sign spelled NO BOYS ALLOWED.
I could hear something from the other side of the door. It’s quiet at first, but as the camera draws nearer I could make out the muffled sounds of children whispering to each other and the sounds of toys being dragged across a hardwood floor.
A hand comes into frame as the mother slowly pushes the bedroom door open revealing the messy room of a little girl. Toys are strewn everywhere, Barbies, Hot Wheels and ponies.
The girl who I presume to be Sarah is asleep in her bed.
The mother says quietly to no one in particular, “Don’t disturb my daughter. She needs to sleep.” There are a few seconds of silence. The mother lets out a sigh of relief feeling she’s won this battle. She takes a step towards her daughter, presumably to check on her or kiss her on the forehead, when a low growl fills the room.
“No,” the woman says quietly, but firmly, into the room like a mother would to a misbehaving child. There’s another few seconds of silence, then, like a lightning bolt, a long black arm lashes out from under the child’s bed, grabs a toy from the floor of the room and pulls it back into the shadows.
The mother screams in terror, the daughter wakes up screaming.
The video ends.
Nope. Don’t feel like messing with that one either. I still look under my bed all the time.
I shoot an email back.
Pretty Spooky!
This isn’t my area of expertise, looks like you might need a priest or a rabbi or shaman or those ‘spiritual’ girls you see at music festivals, but not me!
Hope this helps :P
On to the next email.
Ever since my roommate passed away, things have been going missing in my house. I think he might be haunting me. Is this a situation you could help with?
Bingo! Easy Money.
During the pandemic I started a side-gig as an online psychic to earn a little bit of pocket money. It started with Tarot cards and palm readings and has since evolved into…something else. Once COVID restrictions eased I started doing house calls. It’s a fun gig. I make good money and meet some VERY interesting people.
Only thing is I didn’t believe in any of this shit. I would make it all up.
I started off in my Zoom call days by reading a script I wrote with a couple friends after a few beers, I’ve got it memorized now. Actually, I’ve memorized several different scripts now. Sprinkle in a little improv here and there, and I’m as good as the real thing. Honestly, I think I’m just a good salesman. Confidence takes you a long way in this racket.
Sometimes I feel bad and think, “Maybe I should just start selling cars or something,” but I can’t give this up, it’s just too much fun. And it's so easy.
The thing is, when people lose a loved one, they start going a little bit crazy. They don’t sleep, they forget to eat, they are constantly stressed out dealing with funeral arrangements, grieving loved ones and restructuring their support systems. They get a little bit harebrained and eventually they misplace something. They forget they leave the TV on downstairs and hear voices when they are lying in bed. Sometimes they are so stressed and sleep deprived they straight-up hallucinate.
That’s where I come in. A knight in shining armor.
I tell them it will all be okay; I pass a message to them from their deceased loved one saying how proud they are of the person they have become. I prescribe some hot tea and a good night of sleep and bam – haunting nipped in the bud. The client gets a clear head and fresh start on the rest of their life and I get a pocket full of cash. The placebo effect is the real deal.
I knocked on the door of the tiny shotgun house 2 days later around noon. The door opened and a small Mexican man stood in the doorway wearing jeans and a black T-shirt with Tweety Bird and the Taz the Tasmanian Devil on it. He looked tired.
“Hi! Are you Pedro?” I asked the man.
“Yeah, are you…” He pulled out one of my business cards from his pocket, “Mystical Mike?”
Don’t laugh at the name. Magic Mike was already trademarked and alliteration is a winning business strategy.
“Yup that’s me”
I followed Pedro into the house and found myself standing in the living room. A basic set up with a TV, coffee table, couch and a loveseat. The other side of the room was occupied by a small and dirty kitchen. A small kitchen table bifurcated the two spaces. A short hallway connected the living areas to two bedrooms and a bathroom.
We sat at the kitchen table and Pedro gave me the rundown about what had been happening. His roommate passed away about 2 weeks ago under suspicious circumstances. He was a happy, healthy 28-year-old with a clean bill of health and no drugs in his system. Pedro found him dead in the bathtub. Heart attack was the official cause of death.
Since his passing, Pedro claimed things have been getting moved or going missing. He says he hears his roommate’s bedroom door open and close on its own some nights.
You know, typical ghost shit. This was going to be another easy client.
Now Pedro was Mexican, and Mexican means Catholic. Catholics grow up in a ritual rich environment - Reconciliations, confirmations, the transubstantiation of the communion. If your client is Catholic you can’t just walk around the house burning sage or an incense stick. You need a ritual. You need props.
I carry a bag of props with me to each jobsite. Every type of client needs a different type of prop. Among a few other knickknacks, it’s got a handful of Crystals for the ‘spiritual’ girls, incense and sage for the indigenous, a Bible, Torah and a Quran for the religious, an EMF reader for the skeptics or the scientifically inclined, a couple granola bars if I get hungry, and for the Catholics i have a few crosses and rosaries. I also have a Ouija board. Some clients go crazy for the Ouija.
I pulled out the Ouija board and Pedro’s eyes went wide. I immediately knew this was the right tool for the job.
“Are you sure about that,” he asked, pointing at the Ouija board, “I heard bad things happen after people use those things.”
“Don’t worry Pedro, you’re in the hands of a capable professional,” I lied, “I know exactly what I’m doing,”
I set up the board between us, lit some candles and burned the end of a stick of incense. Ready to blow Pedro’s mind.
Before starting I had one last question for Pedro, “What was your roommate's name?”
“Archibald”
“Oh god, seriously?” I couldn’t help it.
“Yeah, he went by Arch, so it really wasn’t too bad”
“Ok, yeah that makes sense. Let’s start this thing.”
I placed my fingers lightly on the planchette in front of us and coaxed Pedro to do the same as I started the ceremony. I started by reciting a few Latin phrases I had memorized after taking it as a foreign language in high school. It was mostly nonsense. It started off with the opening line from one of Cicero’s famous speeches that I was forced to recite for an oral exam, followed by a series of pauses and random words.
Quamdiu mihi consuli designato, Catilina, insidiatus es, non publico me praesidio, sed privata diligentia defendi!
Pūmilio!
Mea Culpa!
Habeas corpus!
If I ever come across a client who actually knows Latin, I’d be screwed, so it’s a good thing almost no one does.
I switched back over to English.
“Archibald! I call you to witness!”
I started moving the planchette slowly around the board, not landing on anything in particular, just to give Pedro the sense something was happening.
“That’s not you, is it?” Pedro asked, a thin mustache of sweat forming on his upper lip. He shook his head in disbelief, for a guy with a darker complexion he was very pale.
Again, I called out to the ‘spirits’, “Is this this spirit of Arch?”
I began to move the planchette towards the ‘YES’ section of the Ouija board, about halfway there I encountered some resistance. The planchette froze. I couldn’t move it. It was as if it was glued to the board itself. Weird.
Improvising, I called out another question, “What do you want from Pedro?”
My fingers tingled and seemed to grow hot as I tried to move the planchette, still it remained frozen in place. Then, slowly, the wooden planchette drifted to H then E. I glanced up at Pedro to see if he was fucking with me. His face was as white as a sheet of paper and he was taking huge deep breaths like a dying fish as he looked down at the planchette, horrified. I get the sense he was faking.
The planchette continued sliding around the board. K then N over to O then W then S.
HE KNOWS.
Pedro looked up at me for the first time since the ritual began. He was trembling.
“Pedro, what's going on?” I asked him, “What do you know?”
Just then, Pedro and I both pulled our hands back in pain as the planchette erupted in flames. This is when I started to feel like I was the one being conned. I looked under the table for magnets or any type of machinery that could manipulate my planchette. I waved my hand over the flaming wooden disk in case somehow Pedro had managed to rig some sort of thin wire to it. All my searches came up empty.
A primal fear grew in my belly.
The planchette started sliding quickly back and forth across the Ouija board stopping at letters too quickly for us to even register which letter it briefly rested on.
“No mames!” Pedro shouted, “What’s it saying?”
“Uh, I don’t know,” I had no idea what to do in this situation? Ask it to slow down? That made sense, “Excuse me, Ghost? Can you slow it down? You’re going too fast for us to understand you”
The planchette came to an abrupt halt and the small flame extinguished itself just as quickly. A beat later, Pedro and I heard a Click from across the room. The television had turned itself on.
Click click click
Pedro and I watched in silence as the television flicked through several channels before landing on a random daytime soap opera. It was muted. We watched the characters act out a silent argument on the screen for a few seconds before the TV unmuted itself just in time for one of the characters to shout, “I SAID-”
Click click. The TV cycled through some more stations.
Liam Neeson appeared on the screen, “Give me back–”
Click click click click
The TV stopped on a wounded soldier in the jungle who screamed, “My Leg!” before the television muted him.
Pedro gasped and clasped a hand to his mouth.
Click click click.
The TV stopped again, this time on a man in a beanie in a meth lab. It unmuted itself, “BITCH!”
Pedro got up from the table and walked into his room. I could hear him opening his closet and rummaging around.
Click click click.
I sat there in silence while the television started playing the Final Jeopardy music.
The whole experience was just too bizarre. I could feel everything I had known about the world melt and re-arrange itself in my head. What did any of this mean? What powers have I been tempting and tampering with the past few years, and worst of all – were all those emails I get everyday actually legitimate? I felt like someone had just poured ice water down my back.
I had figured they were just people pranking me. People who figured I was conning people and wanted to poke a little bit of fun.
I quickly packed the Ouija board and was about to leave the house, when –
Click click click click
Kendrick Lamar popped up on the screen, “Sit down. Be Humble.”
I sat my ass back down at the kitchen table. A few moments later Pedro walked back into the room carrying a disgusting looking prosthetic leg. He dropped it onto the table with a loud thud.
Click click click click click
“BURN IT” the television shouted; I didn’t see what was on the screen.
Click click click.
Samwise Gamgee was on the screen now, shouting at Frodo, “Throw it in the fire!”
Pedro pulled a lighter out of his pocket and moved towards the leg.
“Wait,” I said to him, “I’m not sure that is a good idea”
Pedro looked confused, “If we give it what it wants, won’t it leave me alone?”
He was desperate, and I understood that. The past 10 minutes had completely shattered my entire worldview, even so, I had watched enough movies to understand that when dealing with an entity like this, you shouldn’t blindly bow to its will. Giving an evil entity something that it wants might only serve to make them more powerful allowing them to tighten their grasp on you.
“I’ll take it,” I said reflexively. It was the first solution that entered my mind. I didn’t want to take it, but that seemed like the path of least resistance to get the hell out of this house where I couldn’t think.
“Be my guest,” Pedro pushed the leg towards me and pocketed the lighter.
The television was screaming at me.
Click click
“Idiot”
Click
“Fool”
Click click click click
“…What I do have are a very particular set of skills, skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you…”
I tossed the leg into my bag and headed towards the door.
“Wait,” Pedro called after me, “Don’t I need to pay you?”
I was so focused on getting out of this house I had completely forgotten. I turned to look at Pedro and saw behind him in the kitchen all of the gas burners on the stove were ignited and the cabinets all hung open. I couldn’t wait to get out of here.
“Just hit me on PayPal,” I said, turning again to leave.
“Wait,” Pedro called again, “Do you offer Apprenticeships?”
I stared at the man, dumbfounded. Apprenticeships? What am I, a welder?
“No” I answered
“Wait,” Pedro asked yet another time, “This was really cool and I’d like to be a part of it, what about internships?”
“Jesus Christ, man,” I was on the verge of breaking, I was physically repulsed by this house, my hand trembled on the doorknob, “Sure, you’re hired, just call me next week, you have my number.” Anything to make this guy stop asking me questions.
I pulled open the door and headed to my car. The last thing I heard from the tv before I closed it behind me was, “I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you”
That’s how I came into possession of the leg and my intern, Pedro, but things only got weirder from there.

I really love the way this game encourages specialisation and variation between regions. I think the administrative tab and systems could be a great way to push this further. It would be great to have the option to have different options for administering the regions ie: manors, monasteries and municipalities (the names might need to change but I like the alliteration). This could improve the way regions are structured, how existing resources are used, and how they interact.
In the administration tab there would be the option for the three different administration types. The castle planner is a great tool (obviously currently underdeveloped) which would be perfectly suited for each of these types. Monasteries would work very similarly to the current castle with options for walls and then specialised buildings such as a hospital, garden, cloister etc. For the town things like a Rathaus, guild halls, covered market would suit. It would also be useful for allowing the centre of a town to be redeveloped fluidly to suit the later game city which can be a bit awkward at the moment with having to destroy the village size burgage plots to make a denser core.
In terms of gameplay this could help to make different regions feel more varied with some leaning more urban and others more rural to suit the needs of the administration. If the same province was settled as a castle it might centre on a defensible hill, while a town could be on trade routes and the monastery where barley and herbs could be gathered.
Existing resources could be used differently between the types of administration: Leather in town for the cobblers vs in the monastery for book binding. Iron for plate armour in the castle and tools/maille in the city. This could also expand to the battle system where a monastery is rich but defenceless requiring protection of knights from the manor, or a town provides well equipped militia to bolster the knights and peasant levies of the manor.
Regional interdependencies could also benefit from this with rich towns desiring books and wine from monasteries, nobles from the castle wanting luxury clothes from the town etc. While this does exist to some extent already, this could add some depth and a feeling of authenticity to the current system of just needing berries from province A to fuel the clothing industry in province B (not that that should go away).
Finally, each of the administration types could have dedicated tech trees attached to allow even further player choice and specialisation. For example having a rural tech focussed manor surrounded by farms vs a militarily tech fortress protecting a mining industry, or a monastery producing wine vs a pilgrimage destination vs a hospital.
Obviously this would require some further thought but I think this would be a great way to add more opportunity and variation while pushing some of the major strengths of the game as it stands. Loving the game so far :)