What is inversion?
Rearrangement of the typical word order in a sentence.
Putting a Twist on Words: Exploring the Wonders of Inversion
Inversion is essentially a reversal of the usual sentence structure.
Instead of a subject-verb-object structure, inversion breaks that order by putting a verb first in a sentence and the subject and object later on; alternately, adverbial expressions may be positioned at the front of the sentence with the verb following directly after it.
This is common in poetic works or other creative genres that seek to add emphasis or pizzazz to their language. It energizes dialogue and narrative description, allowing it to sound more rhythmic or dramatic. However, it is not only used for poetic purposes, but also for clarity or emphasis in formal texts such as dissertations or technical manuals as well.
Typically, sentences start with the subject if the emphasis is on the subject; they start with the verb if the emphasis is on the action; they start with an adjective or adverb to build emphasis; and they can start with a pronoun in dialogue to indicate emotion or tone of voice. With inversion, writers can further control the focus of their sentence to communicate more vividly with their readers.
Inversion has been used throughout literary history, from the classics to contemporary writing.
This famous depiction of Christmas Eve paints a peaceful night with no movement in the house or surrounding area. The inversion of 'not a creature was stirring' emphasizes this lack of movement by positioning the verb before the subject, creating a memorable sentence that adds to the holiday cheer.
Tolkien was known for his innovative wordplay, and this example of inversion is no exception. The typical structure of the sentence would be 'Ringing bells and lips a-swelling over the hill and under the hill,' but the inversion creates a more poetic and musical ring to the sentence, emphasizing the sounds and adding to the otherworldly feel of the novel.