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Derived from the Greek διάβαση, meaning crossing, chiasmus is a rhetorical device in which two or more clauses are balanced against each other by the reversal of their structures to produce an artistic effect. It is often a stylistic choice in which the second part is a mirror image of the first, but not a word-for-word mirror image.
Definition of chiasmus noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
Mar 4, 2024 · Chiasmus is a figure of speech involving a reversal in the order of words in successive clauses. It’s essentially a phrase with mirrored syntax, which creates an inverted parallel between two or more ideas. The word chiasmus comes from the Greek word chiázō, which means “to mark with a cross.”
- Chiasmus Definition
- Chiasmus Examples
- Why Do Writers Use Chiasmus?
- Other Helpful Chiasmus Resources
What is chiasmus? Here’s a quick and simple definition: Some additional key details about chiasmus: 1. Symmetry is key to chiasmus, but the repeated phrases need not be exactly symmetrical. So, a latter phrase might be a much longer elaboration of the preceding phrase that it echoes. 2. Chiasmus is related to the figure of speech antimetabole. 3. C...
Chiasmus Examples in Literature
Chiasmus is not a particularly common figure of speech in literature because it can often create language that feels formal or even stilted. Even so, it does appear occasionally in prose and, more often, in poetry, to produce a lyrical and balanced effect.
Chiasmus Examples in Speeches
The most common use of chiasmus is as antimetabolethat appears in speeches. Antimetabole's simplicity, emphatic effect, and knack for turning a phrase in an unexpected direction all make it a more popular tool in speechwriting. Here are a few examples of chiasmus that are also examples of antimetabole from famous speeches: 1. "Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate." -John F. Kennedy 2. "We shape our buildings, and afterward our buildings shape us." -Winston Ch...
Chiasmus Examples in Religious Texts
Chiasmus is much more common in many religious passages, particularly in the Christian Bible. In this context, the formality of chiasmus lends itself to the formality of the text.
Writers use chiasmus to present and elaborate upon an idea, to persuade and move an audience, and to lend a harmonious quality to writing through organized, but not always exact, repetition.
Star Tribune Article:A clever, light piece on the difference between antimetabole and chiasmus.May 23, 2024 · Chiasmus is a literary or rhetorical device in which a sentence is structured in two connected clauses. Examples of chiasmus...
Chiasmus creates great rhythm in writing and is a useful tool in persuasive rhetoric that aims to focus attention. That’s why it’s more common in poetry than many other forms of writing. Many well-known poets, both modern and historical, have used chiasmus to create literary magic.
Chiasmus is a rhetorical device in which the order of terms in parallel clauses is reversed to create a balanced and stylistically impactful expression. In this article, we will define chiasmus and illustrate this figure of speech with examples from literature.
