schemes
Schemes (Deliberate alterations of sentence patterns for effect):
Alliteration: Repetition of the initial consonant sounds in closely positioned words.
Example: “Bree’s baking brought beautiful bouquets.”
Anaphora: Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses.
Example: “She smiled, she cooked, she cleaned. She was perfect.”
Epistrophe: Repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses.
Example: “Bree couldn’t control her family, Bree couldn’t control her life.”
Parallelism: Using the same grammatical structure in multiple parts of a sentence or sentences.
Example: “Gabby loved fashion, hated the suburbs, and yearned for excitement.”
Antimetabole: Repeating a phrase in reverse order.
Example: “Susan does everything for love, and love does everything for Susan.”
Antithesis: Juxtaposing two contrasting ideas in a balanced structure.
Example: “Bree is the epitome of perfection, but her family is a mess.”
Circumlocution: Using many words to say something that could be said in fewer words.
Example: “Susan, in her eternal pursuit of love, often finds herself in the most complicated of romantic situations.”
Climax: Arranging ideas in increasing importance or intensity.
Example: “At first, Susan wanted a man. Then, she wanted a perfect man. Now, she just wants someone who can handle her chaos.”
Hypophora: Raising a question and then immediately answering it.
Example: “Why does Bree always try to control everything? Because, in control, she feels safe.”
Juxtaposition: Placing two elements side by side for contrast.
Example: “Bree, the housewife perfectionist, next to Gabby, the glamorous model. Two sides of the same coin.”
Rhetorical Question: Asking a question for effect, not to get an answer.
Example: “Is it really a surprise that Susan always ends up in the most dramatic situations?”
Zeugma: A single word (often a verb) governs or modifies two or more words, though these words don’t necessarily fit grammatically.
Example: “Gabby broke her heart and the vase in one fell swoop.”
Polysyndeton: Using multiple conjunctions in close succession, often for emphasis.
Example: “Susan bought flowers and candles and wine and decorations for her dinner party.”
Asyndeton: Omitting conjunctions between clauses to create a concise, often dramatic effect.
Example: “She lied, he cried, the neighbors watched.”