What is chiasmus? ... Chiasmus is a figure of speech in which the grammar of one phrase is inverted in the following phrase, such that two key concepts from the original phrase reappear in the second phrase in inverted order. The sentence “She has all my love; my heart belongs to her ,” is an example of chiasmus.
How do you write chiasmus?
The structure of a chiasmus is pretty simple, so they aren't difficult to craft. All you have to do is make up the first half of the sentence, and then flip a couple of words around for the second half .
What is a chiasmus in writing?
A chiasmus is a two-part sentence or phrase, where the second part is a mirror image of the first . This does not mean that the second part mirrors the same exact words that appear in the first part—that is a different rhetorical device called antimetabole—but rather that concepts and parts of speech are mirrored.
Why is chiasmus used in writing?
Chiasmus is an ancient literary device, as old as Hebrew scripture and ancient Greek verse. Its use in English literature is often a callback to those ancient origins, but just as often, it's used as a simple way to add emphasis to a particular pair of phrases .
When should chiasmus be used?
Chiasmus is a Greek term meaning “diagonal arrangement.” It is used to describe two successive clauses or sentences where the key words or phrases are repeated in both clauses , but in reverse order. For this reason, chiasmus is sometimes known as a criss-cross figure of speech.
How effective is chiasmus?
The Importance of Chiasmus. The chiasmus creates a highly symmetrical structure, and gives the impression of completeness. ... So when it sees a second phrase with the same grammatical structure , the processing is much more efficient.
What is an example of Epanalepsis?
Epanalepsis (eh-puh-nuh-LEAP-siss): Figure of emphasis in which the same word or words both begin(s) and end(s) a phrase, clause, or sentence; beginning and ending a phrase or clause with the same word or words. Example: “ Nothing is worse than doing nothing. “
What is an example of metonymy?
Common examples of metonymy include in language include: Referring to the President of the United States or their administration as “the White House” or “the Oval Office” Referring to the American technology industry as “Silicon Valley” Referring to the American advertising industry as “Madison Avenue”
What is the difference between chiasmus and Antimetabole?
Antimetabole is the repetition of words or phrases . Chiasmus is the repetition of similar concepts within a repeated grammatical structure , but doesn't necessarily involve the repetition of the same words.
What does Zeugma mean in English?
: the use of a word to modify or govern two or more words usually in such a manner that it applies to each in a different sense or makes sense with only one (as in “opened the door and her heart to the homeless boy”)
What is an example of Anadiplosis?
Anadiplosis can involve a single repeated word, or the repetition of a group of words. Both of these sentences, for example, employ anadiplosis: “ She opened a café, a café that ruined her financially .” “While driving, whenever you see a big red hexagon, the big red hexagon means you should stop the car.”
What is an example of Antimetabole?
In rhetoric, antimetabole (/æntɪməˈtæbəliː/ AN-ti-mə-TAB-ə-lee) is the repetition of words in successive clauses, but in transposed order; for example, “I know what I like, and I like what I know” . It is related to, and sometimes considered a special case of, chiasmus.
What is it called when you reverse a phrase?
A palindrome is a word, number, phrase, or other sequence of characters which reads the same backward as forward, such as madam or racecar.
Is to be or not to be a chiasmus?
“To be or not to be” is an example of chiasmus , the “x marks the spot” where the syntax of the sentence turns inside out, turning the logic around at the same time.
What is Asyndeton example?
Asyndeton is a writing style where conjunctions are omitted in a series of words, phrases or clauses. It is used to shorten a sentence and focus on its meaning. For example, Julius Caesar leaving out the word “and” between the sentences “I came. I saw.
What is Epiplexis?
Definitions of epiplexis. a rhetorical device in which the speaker reproaches the audience in order to incite or convince them . type of: rhetorical device. a use of language that creates a literary effect (but often without regard for literal significance)
