Stylistic Devices – Anaphora

successive clauses or sentences start with the same word(s)

The same word or phrase is used to begin successive clauses or sentences. Thus, the reader's / listener's attention is drawn directly to the message of the sentence.

Example:

• Every child must be taught these principles. Every citizen must uphold them. And every immigrant, by embracing these ideals, makes our country more, not less, American. ⁽²⁾
• If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome. (Anne Bradstreet)
• The beginning of wisdom is silence. The second step is listening. (unknown)
• A man without ambition is dead. A man with ambition but no love is dead. A man with ambition and love for his blessings here on earth is ever so alive. (Pearl Bailey)

Anaphora is often used in conjunction with parallelism or climax.

Changed: 06th Nov 2006 11:40

URL: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/writing/style/anaphora