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Literature vocabulary · Genres and Forms

Epigram

Meaning in literature, with examples

nounAdvanced term

In literature, epigram means: A very short, clever statement or poem that expresses an idea in a sharp, memorable, and often surprising way.

In Turkish: vecize

How it is used

Common in literary study for brief witty poems or pointed statements. It often suggests compression, verbal skill, and a twist at the end.

Example sentences

  1. The reviewer called the poem an epigram because its final line turns a polite compliment into a quiet insult.

    Here, the term highlights brevity and a witty reversal, showing that the force of the piece depends on its sharp ending.

  2. For the museum label, Deniz chose an epigram by Blake instead of a longer passage from the essay.

    In this context, the term means a compact literary piece suited to a small space because it carries meaning efficiently.

Common collocations

  • witty epigram
  • an epigram by
  • compose an epigram
  • poemA single piece of writing in lines, often with a regular rhythm or rhyme, that expresses an experience, feeling or idea through carefully chosen language.
  • genreA category of literature defined by shared features of form, style or subject, such as poetry, drama and the novel, or crime, fantasy and romance.

More terms: Genres and Forms

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