Literary Term - Anaphora

 

Literary Term

Anaphora 

Definition of Anaphora

Anaphora is a rhetorical device that involves the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences. The purpose of anaphora is to create emphasis, establish a rhythm or pattern, and make a point more memorable or impactful. Anaphora is commonly used in literature, poetry, speeches, and advertising to emphasize a point or idea, evoke an emotional response, or create a sense of unity or coherence. Some famous examples of anaphora include Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, which begins with the repetition of the phrase "I have a dream," and Charles Dickens' opening sentence in "A Tale of Two Cities," which begins with the repetition of the phrase "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times."

Anaphora vs. Epistrophe

Anaphora and epistrophe are both rhetorical devices that involve repetition, but they differ in their placement within a sentence or clause.

Anaphora involves the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences. For example, in Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, he uses anaphora when he repeats the phrase "I have a dream" at the beginning of several sentences.

Epistrophe, on the other hand, involves the repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses or sentences. For example, in Winston Churchill's famous speech, "We shall fight on the beaches," he uses epistrophe when he repeats the phrase "we shall fight" at the end of several sentences.

In summary, anaphora involves the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences, while epistrophe involves the repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses or sentences.

Anaphora + Epistrophe = Symploce

Symploce is a rhetorical device that combines both anaphora and epistrophe. It involves the repetition of a word or phrase at both the beginning and end of successive clauses or sentences. This technique creates a powerful and memorable effect that can be used to emphasize a point or idea, evoke an emotional response, or create a sense of unity or coherence. Some famous examples of symploce include John F. Kennedy's inaugural address, in which he used the phrase "Let both sides" at both the beginning and end of a sentence to create a sense of balance and unity, and Barack Obama's speech on race, in which he used the phrase "not just" at both the beginning and end of a sentence to emphasize the need for unity and understanding.

Anaphora in the Bible

Anaphora is a common rhetorical device used in the Bible, particularly in the Psalms, Prophets, and New Testament. Some examples of anaphora in the Bible include:

Psalm 42: "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God."

Isaiah 6: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."

Matthew 5: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."

Luke 4: "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free."

These examples demonstrate how anaphora can be used to create emphasis, repetition, and a sense of rhythm in the Bible. Anaphora is a powerful tool for conveying deep spiritual and emotional meaning, and it has been used throughout the ages to inspire and uplift readers.

Anaphora Examples in Literature

Anaphora is a common literary device that can be found in a wide range of literary works, including novels, poetry, and speeches. Here are some examples of anaphora in literature:

Charles Dickens' "A Tale of Two Cities":

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness..."

 

William Shakespeare's "Richard II":

"For God's sake, let us sit upon the ground

And tell sad stories of the death of kings;

How some have been deposed; some slain in war,

Some haunted by the ghosts they have deposed..."

 

Maya Angelou's "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings":

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

 

Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech:

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.' I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit together at the table of brotherhood."

 

These examples demonstrate how anaphora can be used to create a memorable and impactful effect in literature. By repeating key phrases or ideas, anaphora can emphasize a point, create a sense of rhythm, and draw the reader's attention to important themes and motifs in the text.

Anaphora in poetry

Anaphora is a common literary device in poetry and can be found in various forms and styles. Here are some examples of anaphora in poetry:

Langston Hughes' "Harlem":

"What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?

Or does it explode?"

 

T.S. Eliot's "The Hollow Men":

"We are the hollow men

We are the stuffed men

Leaning together

Headpiece filled with straw..."

 

Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven":

"And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting

On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door..."

 

Walt Whitman's "Song of Myself":

"I celebrate myself, and sing myself,

And what I assume you shall assume..."

 

These examples demonstrate how anaphora can be used in poetry to create repetition, rhythm, and emphasis. By repeating key phrases or ideas, anaphora can create a powerful effect that draws the reader's attention and highlights important themes and motifs in the poem.