Litotes

By: Nicole Schumacher

 Definition
• The deliberate use of understatement, not
to deceive someone but to enhance the
impressiveness of what we say.
 In simpler words?
• Litotes usually describe what something is
not.

• Litotes are easily made by using a double

negative.

• Instead of saying something is attractive,

you could say something is not
unattractive.
 Example 1:
• “He was not unfamiliar with the works of
Mark Twain.”

• Shows that he is in fact familiar with the

works of Mark Twain.
 Example 2:
• “I was not a little upset”

• When in fact you mean you were very

upset.
 Example 3:
• “It isn’t very serious. I have the tiny little
tumor on the brain”-J.D. Salinger, The
Catcher in the Rye

• Understating the seriousness of a tumor

and its size on the brain.
 Example 4:
• "Freedom now appeared, to disappear no
more forever”- Frederick Douglass

• Shows that freedom is being materialized.

 Mnemonics
• Litotes could be read as “Light Out,” to
consider night time a light out would be an
example of litotes.

• Litotes -> Toes -> Under your body ->

Understatement
 Video
• 2:05 to 2:50
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bhbd9Z
1oVS0
 Works Cited
"Examples Of Litotes." Litotes Examples -.
N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.
"Litotes and Chiasmus Movie." YouTube.
YouTube, 06 Mar. 2012. Web. 10 Dec.
2012.