"What is epanalepsis?"
Repetition of the initial word or words at the end of a clause or sentence.
Echoes of Language: Exploring the Enigmatic Epanalepsis
A handy tool for both writers and wordsmiths, epanalepsis is a figure of speech that involves the repetition of the initial word or phrase at the end of a clause or sentence, thus creating an echoing effect. Its power lies in the way it emphasizes the key ideas and themes of a text, thereby driving them home to the reader.
With roots in the Greek term epanálepsis, this figure of speech provides us with a way to explore the inherent musicality of language, as well as its capacity to create patterns, images, and emotions in the mind of the reader. From famous examples such as Shakespeare's 'The winter of our discontent' to more subtle and nuanced uses in contemporary literature, the epanalepsis is a versatile technique that can bring depth, rhythm, and resonance to any form of writing.
Examples of how epanalepsis has been used in literature.
'The night was hot and sticky, the air oppressive, but for how long it had been so Ellen couldn't have said.' - Mary Higgins Clark, Where Are the Children?
'This royal throne of kings, this sceptred isle, This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars, This other Eden, demi-paradise' - William Shakespeare, Richard II