Lang Schemes

Parallelism

- Scheme of Balance

- similarity of structure in a pair or series of related words, phrases, or clauses

- emphasizes similarities/connections

Isocolon

- scheme of balance

- use of parallel elements similar not only in structure, as in parallelism, but in length

- addition of symmetry of length to similarity of structure contributes to the rhythm of sentences

Antithesis

- scheme of balance

- the juxtaposition of contrasting ideas often in a parallel structure

- emphasizes dissimilarities and contraries; produces the quality of an aphorism

Anastrophe

- scheme of unusual/inverted word order

- inversion of natural/usual word order

- anastrophe can be effective in gaining attention, but its main purpose is to secure emphasis

- think how Yoda talks

Parenthesis

- scheme of unusual/inverted word order

- insertion of some verbal unit in a position that interrupts the normal syntactical flow of the sentence

- allows the author to insert their voice/opinion/comment, thus charging statement w emotion

Apposition

- scheme of unusual/inverted word order

- placing side by side two coordinate elements, the second of which serves as an explanation or modification of the first

- allows for insertion of additional information or emphasis

Ellipsis

- scheme of omission (leaving something out)

- deliberate omission of a word or words which are readily implied by the context

- artful and arresting means of securing economy of expression

Asyndeton

- scheme of omission

- deliberate omission of conjunction between a series of related causes

- produces a hurried rhythm: I came, I saw, I conquered

Polysyndeton

- scheme of repetition

- the opposite of asyndeton

- deliberate use of many conjunctions

- suggests flow or continuity in some sentences, special emphasis in others

Alliteration

- scheme of repetition

- repetition of initial or medial consonants in two or more adjacent words

- sometimes used for humor; contributes to euphony

- ex. Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.

Assonance

- scheme of repetition

- repeating of similar vowel sounds preceded and followed by different consonants

- produces euphonious, onomatopoetic, or humor

Anaphora

- scheme of repetition

- repeating the same word or group of words at the beginnings of successive clauses

- always intentional

- helps establish a rhythm and produces an emotional effect

Epistrophe

- scheme of repetition

- same as anaphora but words repeated at the end of the clause instead

- sets up pronounced rhythm and secures special emphasis

Epanalepsis

- scheme of repetition

- repetition at the end of a clause of a word that occurred at the beginning of the clause

- gives language appearance of emotional spontaneity

Anadiplosis

- scheme of repetition

- repeating the last word of one clause at the beginning of the next clause

Climax

- scheme of repetition

- arrangement of words, phrases, or clauses in an order of increasing importance

Antimetabole

- scheme of repetition

- repetition of words, in following clauses, in reverse grammatical order

- produces impressive turn of phrase typical of anaphorism

- ex. One should eat to live, not live to eat

Chiasmus

- scheme of repetition

- reverse of grammatical structure in following phrases or clauses

- like antimetabole w/o repetition

- ex. Language changes. So should your dictionary

Polyptoton

- scheme of repetition

- repetition of words derived from the same root

- similar to word play

- meanings of words DO NOT lose literal meaning

- ex. The Greeks are strong, and skillful to their strength. Fierce to their skill, and to their fierceness valiant.