What does ambiguous mean in literary terms

On a larger scale, ambiguity may develop in a character , or in an entire story. For instance, Hamlet is a morally ambiguous character. Ambiguity in literature serves the purpose of lending a deeper meaning to a literary work.

By introducing ambiguity in their works, writers give liberty to readers to use their imagination to explore meanings. This active participation of the readers involves them in the prose or poetry they read. Instead, the ending is meant to remain unresolved, allowing the audience to think about the possible interpretations long after. He gives them—and, by proxy, the readers—no concrete answer for which version is the real one. The final scene shows mob boss Tony Soprano and his family out to dinner, with suspicious characters all around, and then suddenly cuts to black before the final credits roll.

Audiences wondered if the abrupt end implied Tony and his family were fine or indicated that he was shot to death by an enemy in the restaurant. Certain literary devices, particularly irony and puns , rely on ambiguity to be effective.

Irony occurs when a word or event indicates something different than—and contradictory to—its actual meaning. The ambiguity between actual meaning and appearance creates verbal, situational, or dramatic irony in a text. Puns rely on wordplay that exploits multiple different possible meanings or similar sounds for humor.

This type of lexical ambiguity allows multiple humorous interpretations. Hamlet cannot be described as fully good or fully bad, and his moral ambiguity helps make him a compelling character. Outside of literature or other narrative-driven media, the term ambiguity is generally seen in the field of law.

It references a situation where the terms of a contract could have multiple possible definitions or refer to multiple situations. Ambiguity in law is either patent or latent ambiguity—the former being ambiguity that is readily apparent to anyone perusing the legal document in question, and the latter meaning that the way the document is worded appears clear but, on further examination, could apply equally to two different subject matters or entities.

After discussing whether they should split up, venture off together somewhere new, or return again the next day to continue their endless waiting for the titular Mr. Godot, they share this final exchange:. This ambiguous closing allows the audience to imagine that the pair might stop waiting for Godot or return the next day.

They may not even leave the tree and instead sleep there that night. Goodreads has a great list of the best books with morally ambiguous characters. However, it is unclear whether Edna has purposefully committed suicide or unintentionally gotten swept away in the waves. Most readers and scholars assume that this is an act of suicide, but Chopin leaves enough ambiguity so that readers can come to their own conclusions. I wear a red yes and how he kissed me under the Moorish Wall and I thought well as well him as another and then I asked him with my eyes to ask again yes and then he asked me would I yes to say yes….

They may refer to Leopold, or to other previous lovers. Which of the following statements is the best ambiguity definition? A statement that is so unclear that no conclusion can be drawn from it. An event or utterance from which more than one interpretation can be made.

Which of the following Mitch Hedberg jokes contains an example of ambiguity? I used to do drugs. I still do, but I used to, too. I like rice. In Frank R. Tiger—the princess would have been too jealous to allow the man to marry another woman and instead chooses for him to die.

Not sure. Home List of Literary Devices Citation. Definition of Ambiguity Ambiguity occurs when something is open to more than one interpretation. Answer to Question 1 Show Answer: B is the correct answer.