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Pronunciation: \ ˌ am-bə- ˈ gyü-ə-tē\

Definition: The quality or state of being doubtful or uncertain especially from obscurity or indistinctness.

Literary Use: Authors may use this literary devise to give the readers a choice between many different streams of thought.

Example 1) " 'You're welcome. But before you go, I'd like to ask you something.' 'Yes?' ... 'I told you two stories that account for the 227 days in between.' 'Yes, you did.' 'Neither explains the sinking of the //Tsintsum//.' 'That's right.' 'Neither makes a factual different to you.' 'That's true.' 'You can't prove which story is true and which is not. You must take my word for it.' 'I guess so.' 'In both stories the ship sinks, my entire family dies, and I suffer.' 'Yes, that's true.' 'So tell me, since it makes no factual difference to you and you can't prove the question either way, which story do you prefer? Which is the better story, the story with animals or the story without animals?'" (Pg. 316-317; //Life of Pi//; Yann Martel)

Analysis 1) Yann Martel's use of ambiguity in the ending scenes of his book lend to the breadth of discussion once it is complete by posing a question with an unattainable answer.

Example 2) "Call it, he said. Call it? Yes. For what? Just call it. Well I need to know what it is we're callin here How would that change anything?" (Pg. 55-56; //No Country For Old Men//; Cormac McCarthy)

Analysis 2) Cormac McCarthy's use of ambiguity at the beginning of his novel is used to create a greater level of tension between the antagonist and anyone unfortunate to cross his path. The fact that he does not reveal his intentions plays on a very primal idea. This is the idea that it is better to be certain of hostile intentions than to be unsure of anything. This can be seen in the actions of circus animals and house pets and it is just as true of people.

Example 3) "He crawled forward and soon he understood. The tangle of lines showed him the mechanics of this parody; he examined the white nasal bones, the teeth, the colors of corruption." (Pg. 168; //Lord of the Flies//; William Golding)

Analysis 3) William Golding's use of ambiguity allows his characters to act out their corruption due to their misinterpretations of a truly harmless object. Their unfounded fears and misconceptions allow them to succumb to primal madness much faster than without it's influence.

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