What is an Anadiplosis?
Repeating the last word of one phrase or clause at the beginning of the next one.
Doubling Up: An Exploration of the Literary Device Anadiplosis
Anadiplosis is a clever repetition of words that draws attention to both the end and the beginning of neighboring phrases or clauses. This repetition creates a satisfying rhythm and helps to connect different thoughts and ideas.
Writers use anadiplosis to link concepts together in a powerful way. By repeating a key word, they can reinforce an idea while also introducing a new one. It's a technique that forces the reader to pay attention, as they anticipate the repeated word and then experience a sense of resolution when it appears.
The device also has a delightful etymology, as the word anadiplosis itself is derived from the Greek ἀναδίπλωσις, which means 'doubling up.' This is a fitting name for a technique that involves repeating phrases to create a sense of unity and coherence.
In creative writing, anadiplosis can be used effectively in a number of ways. For example, it can be employed to build momentum in a climactic scene, reinforce a theme or motif, or highlight an important point. It's a tool that can be used in both prose and poetry to great effect.
Anadiplosis has been used in literature for centuries to create powerful and memorable phrases. Here are two examples of this device in action.
'...yet I refused: I wished to see the caveman, what he had to offer—
no pretty sight, it turned out, for my friends—
but what he furnished was, in a word, a meal.'
In this example, the title doubles up at the end of the first line and starts the next sentence, creating a sense of momentum that propels the reader forward.
'They were a long time going up
and at the top they found—no Manette.'
Here, the last word of the first line, 'up', is repeated at the beginning of the second line, creating a sense of suspense and anticipation at the missing character.