grotesque
grotesque
Pronunciation
IPA Phonetic Spelling of "grotesque" (British English):
grəʊˈtɛsk (two syllables)
First syllable (grəʊ):
gr - voiced velar plosive /ɡ/
əʊ - near-close back rounded vowel /ʊ/ followed by a schwa /ə/
Second syllable (ˈtɛsk):
t - voiceless alveolar plosive /t/
ɛ - open-mid front unrounded vowel /ɛ/
s - voiceless alveolar fricative /s/
k - voiceless velar plosive /k/
Note: This is the pronunciation for British English. In American English, the first vowel sound might be closer to /oʊ/ (like "boat") instead of /ʊ/.
Word Form Variations
The word "grotesque" has a few variations depending on its part of speech:
Adjective: This is the most common form, used to describe something as distorted, bizarre, or unnaturally ugly. (e.g., "The carnival had a grotesque cast of characters.")
Noun: "Grotesque" can also function as a noun referring to:
A grotesque object, design, person, or thing. (e.g., "The gargoyles on the cathedral were truly grotesques.")
Specifically, it can refer to the 16th-century decorative style featuring distorted human, animal, and plant forms. (e.g., "The artist's work was heavily influenced by the grotesque.")
No plural form: "Grotesque" doesn't have a separate plural form. You can simply add an "-s" when referring to multiple grotesque things. (e.g., "The walls were adorned with grotesques.")
Derived forms:
grotesquely (adverb): This describes something in a grotesque manner. (e.g., "The clown was grotesquely contorted.")
grotesqueness (noun): This refers to the quality of being grotesque. (e.g., "The movie reveled in the grotesqueness of its characters.")
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Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms
Noun:
Definition 1: A distorted or unnatural representation of a person, animal, or object, often used in decorative art. (Synonyms: caricature, gargoyle, monstrosity; Antonyms: natural representation, idealised form)
Definition 2: Something strangely ugly, bizarre, or shocking. (Synonyms: eyesore, monstrosity, abomination; Antonyms: beauty, pleasantness, elegance)
Adjective:
Definition 1: Distorted or unnatural in shape or appearance; fantastically ugly. (Synonyms: bizarre, hideous, monstrous, macabre; Antonyms: beautiful, attractive, pleasing)
Definition 2: Absurdly incongruous; wildly inappropriate or out of place. (Synonyms: ludicrous, ridiculous, preposterous; Antonyms: fitting, appropriate, sensible)
Adverb (derived form: grotesquely)
Definition: In a grotesque manner; in a way that is distorted, ugly, or shocking. (Synonyms: bizarrely, hideously, monstrously; Antonyms: beautifully, attractively, pleasingly)
Note: "Grotesque" does not have a verb form.
Examples of Use
Literature:
Book: Victor Hugo's "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" features the iconic character Quasimodo, whose physical deformity is described as grotesque (Hugo, 1831).
Poem: T.S. Eliot's poem "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" uses grotesque imagery to portray the speaker's anxieties: "I am not Prince Hamlet, nor was meant to be; / Am an attendant lord, one that will do / To swell a progress, start a scene or two, / A foil for some rich fool in a play" (Eliot, 1915).
News/Online Publications:
Newspaper: A headline like "Grotesque Acts of Cruelty Exposed in Animal Shelter Investigation" (hypothetical example) uses "grotesque" to emphasise the severity of the abuse.
Online Review: A restaurant review might use "grotesque" to describe an unpleasant dish: "The overcooked fish was served with a grotesquely sweet sauce" (hypothetical example).
Entertainment Media:
Film: Tim Burton's films, known for their dark and quirky style, often feature grotesque characters and settings.
Video Game: Horror games often rely on grotesque imagery to create a sense of fear and disgust.
Public Discourse:
Political Speech: A politician might use "grotesque" to describe a particularly offensive or outrageous policy of their opponent.
Social Media: Someone might comment on a social media post, "That outfit is grotesquely mismatched!"
General Conversation:
Casual Conversation: "Did you see that grotesquely large spider in the corner?"
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10 Famous Quotes Using the term Grotesque
While there aren't many quotes directly using "grotesque" by famous figures, here are ten quotes that capture the essence of the word through its synonyms or explore the concept it represents:
"The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off." - Gloria Steinem (captures the shocking or uncomfortable nature that "grotesque" can imply)
"Beauty and terror are sometimes inseparable." - Mary Shelley (highlights the unsettling juxtaposition often found in the grotesque)
"We are all grotesque parodies of the human form." - Charles Bukowski (expresses the distorted or unnatural appearance associated with grotesque)
"Nature is not always picturesque." - Gustave Flaubert (acknowledges the existence of the strange and unsettling in nature, a theme of the grotesque)
"The human face is a book, and if you can read it you will find the story of humanity." - Ralph Waldo Emerson (contrasts the potential beauty with the potential ugliness humanity can hold)
"The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever sees." - G.K. Chesterton (suggests the grotesque might be hidden in plain sight, waiting to be discovered)
"The dream reveals a truth that waking life obscures." - Friedrich Nietzsche (hints at the subconscious and disturbing elements the grotesque can represent)
"Satire is what closes a schoolhouse but opens eyes." - Charles F. Glassman (shows how the grotesque can be used to expose uncomfortable truths)
"The function of humour is to fight pain." - E.B. White (suggests the grotesque might be a way to deal with difficult or disturbing realities)
"The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing." - Socrates (highlights the unsettling vastness of the unknown, which can be a source of the grotesque)
Etymology
The word "grotesque" comes from a surprising place: underground! In the 1500s, people in Italy were uncovering the buried ruins of ancient Rome. These ruins included rooms with strange paintings on the walls. The paintings showed fantastical creatures, half-human and half-animal, mixed with weird plants and flowers.
The Italians called this style of art "pittura grottesca," which basically means "cave painting" because the artwork was found in these underground spaces. The word "grottesca" comes from the Italian word "grotta," which means "cave." Our English word "grotto" actually comes from this same root!
So, the first known use of "grotesque" referred to this particular style of art. It described these wild and fantastical images. Over time, the meaning expanded to describe anything that's bizarre, ugly, or shocking, just like those surprising paintings found underground.
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Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Grotesque
Interestingly, there aren't many common phrases or idioms that directly use "grotesque." However, here are some expressions that capture a similar meaning:
A sight to behold: This can be used sarcastically to describe something extremely ugly or disturbing, similar to how something grotesque would be.
A train wreck: This idiom describes something that's completely out of control and unpleasant, similar to the chaotic or distorted nature of the grotesque.
Lay it on thick: This refers to exaggerating something to an absurd degree, which can create a grotesque effect.
Go overboard: Similar to "lay it on thick," this idiom suggests excess and lack of restraint, which can be grotesque.
A hot mess: This is a casual term for something that's completely disorganised and unpleasant, similar to the unsettling nature of the grotesque.
While not directly using "grotesque," these phrases convey a similar sense of the bizarre, excessive, or disturbing.
Posts Related to Grotesque
Source Information
Definition of grotesque from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
