Epistrophe is derived from a Greek word that method “turning upon,” which indicates the equal word returns on the stop of every sentence. Epistrophe is a stylistic tool that may be defined as the repetition of terms or words on the ends of the clauses or sentences. It is also called “epiphora.” Epistrophe examples are regularly observed in literary pieces, in persuasive writing, and in speeches.
The Difference Between Anaphora and Epistrophe
Anaphora is the other of epistrophe, and manner the repetition of the equal phrase or phrase at the beginning of successive sentences, such as in this example:
Five years have passed;
Five summers, with the length of
Five long winters! And again I listen these waters …
However, in epistrophe, the repetition of phrases or words is at the give up of successive sentences such as on this example:
“Hourly joys be nevertheless upon you! Juno sings her blessings on you …
Scarcity and need shall shun you,
Ceres’ blessing so is on you.”
Examples of Epistrophe in Literature
Poets have written a number of poems in regular meters, and epistropheic meter is extensively used in numerous of them.
Example #1: The Rebel (By D. J. Enright)
“When every person has short hair,
The rebellion shall we his hair develop lengthy.
When each person has long hair,
The riot cuts his hair brief.
When every person talks throughout the lesson,
The rise up does’n say a phrase.
When nobody talks all through the lesson
The rebellion does’n say a phrase.
When no one talks at some point of the lesson,
The rise up creates a disturbance.
When all of us wears a uniform,
The revolt attire in incredible clothes.
When everybody wears tremendous clothes
The rebellion attire soberly.
In the company of canine lovers,
The rebellion expresses a choice for cats.
In the agency of cat lovers,
The rebel puts in a good phrase for dogs.
When everyone is praising the sun,
The rise up feedback on the need for rain.
When all and sundry is greeting the rain,
The insurrection regrets the absence of sun.
When all people goes to the meeting
The rise up stays at home and reads a book.
When all and sundry stays at domestic and reads a book,
The rise up goes to the meeting.
When anyone says, sure please!
The riot says, No thank you.
When anybody says: No thank you,
The rise up says, sure please!
It is superb that we have rebels
You might not find it excellent to be one.”
Here the terms are repeated in consecutive lines for the duration of the poem.
Example #2: The Unnamable (By Samuel Beckett)
“Where now? Who now? When now?”
Examples of epistrophe abound in Beckett’s works. In this excerpt, the phrase “now” is repeated three instances to vicinity emphasis, as well as making the line memorable. It additionally creates cadence and rhythm.
Example #3: Julius Caesar (By William Shakespeare)
“Who is here so base that would be a bondman? If any, speak; for him have I offended. Who is here so rude that might no longer be a Roman? If any, speak; for him have I offended. Who is right here so vile that will not love his country? If any, speak; for him have I offended …”
Again, Shakespeare is at his first-class in the usage of this stylistic device. The repeated word on the ends of sentences is “for him have I offended.” It appears three time on this excerpt. This shows the significance of the phrase.
Example #4: The Grapes of Wrath (By John Steinbeck)
“Then I’ll be all aroun’ in the dark. I’ll be ever’where – wherever you look. Wherever they’s a fight so hungry human beings can eat, I’ll be there. Wherever they’s a cop beatin’ up a guy, I’ll be there … An’ while our folk consume the stuff they enhance an’ live in the homes they build – why, I’ll be there …”
In the subsequent excerpt, Steinbeck has hired the phrase “I’ll be there” again and again as epistrophe. The phrase is growing a feel of connection and familiarity, and focuses the eye of readers on these phrases.
Example #5: Flood: A Romance of Our Time (By Robert Penn Warren)
“The big sycamore through the creek was gone. The willow tangle changed into gone. The little enclave of untrodden bluegrass turned into gone. The clump of dogwood on the little upward thrust across the creek — now that, too, turned into gone …”
In this novel, the phrase “turned into gone” is used as an epistrophe. These phrases act as not unusual threads at some stage in the paragraph. It is likewise giving a everyday rhyme and rhythm to the text.
Function of Epistrophe
The rhetorical feature of this stylistic tool is to give a hanging emphasis to an idea, a thought, or a passage. The repetition enables in making the phrases memorable and pleasurable, due to the everyday rhyme scheme. Also, it furnishes artistic effect, both in prose and in poetry. In addition, it lends rhythm to the text, and appeals to the feelings of readers.
Popular Literary Devices
- Ad Hominem
- Deus Ex Machina
- Double Entendre
- Flash Forward
- Half Rhyme
- Internal Rhyme
- Line Break
- Non Sequitur
- Pathetic Fallacy
- Poetic Justice
- Point of View
- Red Herring
- Tragic Flaw