“In traditional rhetoric, ‘device for changing the basic meaning of a word are termed as tropes.’” - Tomashevsky (Quoted in Universe of Mind by Yuri Lotman) Brief explanation: The statement means: In classical and traditional rhetoric and literary theory, tropes are specific figures of speech or rhetorical devices that alter or shift the literal or basic meaning of a word or phrase. Simple breakdown: Literal meaning = the ordinary, dictionary definition of a word. Trope = a deliberate twist or turn (from Greek tropos = "turn") that makes the word mean something different from its basic sense. Common examples of tropes: Metaphor: "He is a lion." (changes "he" from a person to something brave or fierce). Metonymy: "The White House issued a statement." (uses "White House" to mean the U.S. President or administration). Synecdoche: "All hands on deck." (uses "hands" to mean whole sa...
"Most animals feel stress when they sense danger. Humans feel stress when they 'imagine' danger." The above quote highlights a key difference between how animals and humans experience stress. Breakdown: Animals: Their stress is reactive and tied to the present moment. When they detect a real, immediate threat like a predator nearby, loud noise, or sudden movement, their body triggers stress (fight-or-flight) to help them survive. Once the danger passes, the stress usually disappears quickly. Humans: Our stress is often proactive and imaginative. We don't need an actual danger in front of us — we can create it in our minds through worry, anticipation, rumination, or "what if" thinking. We stress about future possibilities, e.g., "What if I lose my job?", past mistakes, or imagined scenarios that may never happen. This mental simulation keeps our stress response active even when we're physically safe. Why it matters: This ability to imagine ...