repetition figure of speech

Definition of Repetition

Common examples of repetition, examples of repetition in movie lines, famous examples of repetition, differences between repetition of sounds.

In addition to using repeating words and phrases as a literary device, writers may use repetition of sounds as well. Overall, the repetition of sound can provide rhythm , pacing , and musicality to a work of poetry or prose. These types of repeated sounds are consonance , assonance , and alliteration .

Writing Repetition

It’s essential that writers bear in mind that their audience may experience fatigue if repetition is overused. As a literary device, repetition should be used deliberately and not just for the sake of repeating a word or phrase. However, when used properly, repetition can be an influential device in writing.

Sense of Rhythm

Create emphasis, purpose of repetition in literature, use of repetition in sentences, examples of repetition in literature, example 1: macbeth (william shakespeare).

Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow , Creeps in this petty pace from day to day, To the last syllable of recorded time; And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death.

 Example 2: A Dog Has Died (Pablo Neruda; translated by Alfred Yankauer)

My dog has died. I buried him in the garden next to a rusted old machine. Some day I’ll join him right there, but now he’s gone with his shaggy coat, his bad manners and his cold nose, and I, the materialist, who never believed in any promised heaven in the sky for any human being, I believe in a heaven I’ll never enter. Yes, I believe in a heaven for all dogdom where my dog waits for my arrival waving his fan-like tail in friendship.

Neruda achieves this through the poet stating that he does not believe in a heaven for humans, but he does believe in a heaven for dogs. The fact that the poet will “never enter” this heaven for “dogdom” indicates his realization that the dog’s death means a permanent separation of their friendship. Through this repetition of heaven as a concept for dogs but not humans, the reader gains an even greater sense of the grief the poet must be experiencing. The image of the dog waiting for his human’s arrival in heaven is therefore even more heartbreaking.

Example 3: The Ballad of the Sad Cafe (Carson McCullers)

But the hearts of small children are delicate organs. A cruel beginning in this world can twist them into curious shapes. The heart of a hurt child can shrink so that forever afterward it is hard and pitted as the seed of a peach. Or again, the heart of such a child may fester and swell until it is a misery to carry within the body, easily chafed and hurt by the most ordinary things.

Synonyms of Repetition

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Repetition Definition

What is repetition? Here’s a quick and simple definition:

Repetition is a literary device in which a word or phrase is repeated two or more times. Repetition occurs in so many different forms that it is usually not thought of as a single figure of speech . Instead, it's more useful to think of repetition as being a category that covers a number of more specific figures of speech, all of which use repetition in different ways.

Some additional key details about repetition:

• Figures of speech that employ repetition usually repeat single words or short phrases, but some can involve the repetition of sounds while others might involve the repetition of entire sentences.
• Repeating information has been scientifically shown to increase the likelihood of changing people's minds. The persuasive power of repetition is one of the reasons it is so common.

Repetition Pronunciation

Here's how to pronounce repetition: rep-ih- tish -un

Figures of Speech that Use Repetition

There are many different figures of speech that use repetition, all in different ways. These figures of speech can vary in the things they repeat (sounds, words, phrases, etc.) as well as in the specific order in which the repeated words appear in clauses or sentences. The most common repetition figures of speech are:

• Alliteration : The repetition of the same sound in a group of words, such as the “b” sound in: “Bob brought the box of bricks to the basement.” The repeating sound must occur either in the first letter of each word, or in the stressed syllables of those words.
• Anadiplosis : Occurs when a word or group of words located at the end of one clause or sentence is repeated at or near the beginning of the following clause or sentence. This line from the novelist Henry James is an example of anadiplosis: "Our doubt is our passion, and our passion is our task."
• Anaphora : The repetition of words at the beginning of successive clauses, phrases, or sentences. For example, Martin Luther King's famous "I Have a Dream" speech contains anaphora: "So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania..."
• Antanaclasis : A repetition of a word or phrase in which the that word or phrase means something different each time it appears. A famous example of antanaclasis is Benjamin Franklin's statement that: "We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately."
• Antimetabole : The repetition of a phrase, but with the order of words reversed. John F. Kennedy's words, "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country," is a famous example of antimetabole.
• Assonance : The repetition of the same vowel sound within a group of words. An example of assonance is the repetition of the "oo" sound in: "Who gave Newt and Scooter the blue tuna? It was too soon!"
• Consonance : The repetition of the same consonant sound within a group of words. An example of consonance is the repetition of the "f" sound in: "Traffic figures to be tough on July Fourth."
• Diacope : The repetition of a word or phrase with a small number of intervening words. The repetition of "unhappy" in the first line of Anna Karenina is an example of diacope, "Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way," is an example of diacope.
• Epanalepsis : Occurs when the beginning of a clause or sentence is repeated at the end of that same clause or sentence, with words intervening. The sentence "The king is dead, long live the king!" is an example of epanalepsis.
• Epistrophe : In epistrophe, one or more words repeat at the end of successive phrases, clauses, or sentences. In his Gettysburg Address, Abraham Lincoln urged the American people to ensure that, "government of the people, by the people, for the people,shall not perish from the earth." His repetition of "the people" at the end of each clause is an example of epistrophe.
• Epizeuxis : The repetition of a word or phrase in immediate succession, with no words in between. When the character Kurtz in Heart of Darkness says, "The horror, the horror," that's an example of epizeuxis.
• Polysyndeton : Occurs when coordinating conjunctions—words such as "and," "or," and "but" that join other words or clauses in a sentence into relationships of equal importance—are used several times in close succession, particularly where conjunctions would normally not be present at all. For instance, the following sentence contains polysyndeton: "We ate roast beef and squash and biscuits and potatoes and corn and cheese and cherry pie."
• Polyptoton : Occurs when words that share the same root, but are not identical, are repeated. The question, "Who shall watch the watchmen?" is an example of polyptoton.
• Refrain : In a poem or song, a refrain is a line or group of lines that regularly repeat, usually at the end of a stanza in a poem or at the end of a verse in a song. In a speech or other prose writing, a refrain can refer to any phrase that repeats a number of times within the text.

Repetition Examples

Here are additional examples from literature for each of the most common figures of speech that use repetition.

Repetition Example from Literature: Alliteration

This example from lines 5-6 of the Prologue of Romeo and Juliet has two sets of alliteration, one with “f” sounds and one with “l” sounds.

F rom f orth the f atal l oins of these two f oes A pair of star-cross'd l overs take their l ife;

Repetition Example from Literature: Anadiplosis

In Lolita , the morally bankrupt Humbert Humbert defends his relationship to the young Lolita to an imagined jury. Here, he reveals that what he presented as another person's letter was actually written by him, ostensibly from memory.

What I present here is what I remember of the letter , and what I remember of the letter I remember verbatim (including that awful French.)

A tactic of his deceit involves convincing the jury of the improbable—that is, that he remembers a letter verbatim—and his use of anadiplosis as a persuasion tool reflects both his charming and incredibly slimy personality.

Repetition Example from Literature: Anaphora

In this short excerpt from The Great Gatsby , F. Scott Fitzgerald uses anaphora in a description of the apartment that Tom Buchanan keeps as a secret location for his extramarital affair. The anaphora emphasizes the smallness of this gaudy apartment, which also reflects the pettiness of the affair.

The apartment was on the top floor— a small living-room, a small dining-room, a small bedroom, and a bath.

Repetition Example from Literature: Antanaclasis

Shakespeare often used antanaclasis in his plays. For instance, in Act V of Henry V a character named Pistol promises to sneak off to England and there engage in crime:

To England will I steal, and there I'll steal.

Repetition Example from Literature: Antimetabole

The dashing trio's rallying cry in The Three Musketeers is a famous example of antimetabole. The saying has remained in circulation until today—in part because antimetabole makes it so memorable.

All for one and one for all !

Repetition Example from Literature: Assonance

In these lines from Book XII of Lattimore's translation of Homer's Iliad the assonance helps reinforce the lulling effect of the winds' sleep:

"When Zeus ... st i lls the w i nds asleep i n the sol i d dr i ft ..."

Repetition Example from Literature: Consonance

In this line from chapter 9 of Moby-Dick , the " s " and " h " sounds mirror the activity of the scene—singing—by making the prose musical.

Nearly all joined in s inging thi s h ymn, which s welled h igh about the h owling of the s torm ...

Repetition Example from Literature: Diacope

In Othello , just before he kills Desdemona in Act V, Othello utters this line that contains the repetition of diacope:

Put out the light , and then put out the light .

It's worth noting that Othello's line here is also an example of antanaclasis, as he is using "put out the light" to mean two different things.

Repetition Example from Literature: Epanalepsis

In this excerpt from a speech by Ralph Nader, the repetition of "minimum wage" underscores its role as a major concern in both his speech and his political priorities.

A minimum wage that is not a livable wage can never be a minimum wage .

Repetition Example from Literature: Epistrophe

In this example from Chapter 28 of the The Grapes of Wrath , Steinbeck's use of epistrophe in Tom Joad's farewell dialog with his mother emphasizes Joad's desire both to provide her with some reassurance and continue to be there for her:

Wherever they's a fight so hungry people can eat, I'll be there . Wherever they's a cop beaten' up a guy, I'll be there ...I'll be in the way guys yell when they're mad an'—I'll be in the way kids laugh when they're hungry and they know supper's ready. An' when our folk eat the stuff they raise n'live in the houses they build—why, I'll be there .

Joad's repetition of his presence wherever poor people need help also emphasizes his dedication to the cause he believes in, and turns him into an almost mythological or godly presence who is always there to protect and support the downtrodden.

Repetition Example from Literature: Epizeuxis

One of the most famous examples of epizeuxis occurs in Hamlet , as Hamlet is speaking to (and mocking) Polonious in Act 2. When Polonius asks Hamlet what he's reading, Hamlet responds:

Words, words, words.

Here Hamlet both mocks what he sees as the stupidity of Polonious's question, but at the same time the repetition communicates a kind of awful weariness, in which Hamlet can't bring himself to care about the meaning of the words.

Repetition Example from Literature: Polysyndeton

Bob Dylan won the nobel prize for literature for the genius of his lyrics. His song "Masters of War" shows how polysyndeton can be used to build a specific emotion:

" And I hope that you die And your death'll come soon I will follow your casket In the pale afternoon And I'll watch while you're lowered Down to your deathbed And I'll stand over your grave 'Til I'm sure that you're dead"

Anger and disgust are palpable in the final lines of this song of protest against the politicians behind the Vietnam War. By using polysyndeton, Dylan continues to add phrase after phrase, far beyond where listeners might expect him to stop, to fully communicate the depth of his fury and his hatred for the politicians he calls the "masters of war."

Repetition Example from Literature: Polyptoton

In Shakespeare's play Troilus and Cressida , the character Troilus uses polyptoton three times in two lines. In all three cases, the repetition emphasizes the might of the Greeks:

The Greeks are strong and skillful to their strength , Fierce to their skill and to their fierceness valiant;

Repetition Example from Literature: Refrain

These are the first two stanzas of a song from Shakespeare's play, Twelfth Night . This poem actually contains a "double refrain," because it has two lines that repeat as refrains in each stanza.

When that I was and a little tiny boy, With hey, ho, the wind and the rain, A foolish thing was but a toy, For the rain it raineth every day. But when I came to man’s estate, With hey, ho, the wind and the rain, ’Gainst knaves and thieves men shut their gate, For the rain it raineth every day.

Why Do Writers Use Repetition?

Given the large number of figures of speech that use repetition, it stands to reason that writers use repetition for all sorts of different reasons. That said, it's possible to describe some general reasons that writers might choose to use repetition:

• Emphasis: The repetition of a word or phrase naturally serves to highlight it's importance within a text and as a thing or idea.
• Persuasion: Scientific studies have shown that simply repeating something is one of the most effective ways to convince people of its truth. Figures of speech that use repetition are common in speeches for just this reason.
• Contrast: Sometimes by repeating the same thing in slightly different contexts it is possible to illuminate contrasts. For instance, in the sentence, "What you own ends up owning you," the repetition of "own" highlights the contrast or twist in the sentence, which argues that the things you buy to improve your life can end up limiting and influencing your life choices.
• Rhythm: Repetition creates a natural rhythm, like beats of a drum, within a sentence. Repetition, then, is not just valuable for how it can allow a writer to control the meaning of sentences. It also can help a writer to affect the feel of those sentences.

Other Helpful Repetition Resources

• Wikipedia entry on repetition : A pretty basic discussion of repetition as a device.
• Youtube video on repetition : This video covers the basics of repetition.

• Alliteration
• Anadiplosis
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• Antimetabole
• Epanalepsis
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Repetition Figure of Speech

Figures of speech are literary devices which are used to convey ideas that go beyond their literal meaning. In English, there are more than 200 different  types of figures of speech . 

Repetition Figure of Speech is one of them.

Repetition Figure of Speech Meaning

Repetition is a figure of speech where a word or phrase within a sentence is repeated. It is done for emphasis or for poetic effect. It is a very frequently used figure of speech.

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• I searched and searched and searched. (The act of searching is highlighted and emphasised.)
• He came, He saw, He conquered. (The pronoun ‘He‘ is repeated thrice for emphasis.)

Repetition Figure of Speech Examples

Following are some popular examples of Repetition:

“I‘m nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody too?” — Emily Dickinson , I’m Nobody! Who are You?

“If you think you can win, you can win.” — William Hazlitt

“Because I do not hope to turn again Because I do not hope Because I do not hope to turn…” — T. S. Elliot , Ash-Wednesday

“To the swinging and the ringing of the bells, bells, bells Of the bells, bells, bells, bells Bells, bells, bells” — Edgar Allan Poe , The Bells

“And my father sold me, while yet my tongue Could scarcely cry “‘weep! ‘weep! ‘weep! ‘weep!” — William Blake , The Chimney Sweeper

• Literary Terms
• Definition & Examples
• When & How to Use Repetition

I. What is Repetition?

Quite simply, repetition is the repeating of a word or phrase. It is a common rhetorical device used to add emphasis and stress in writing and speech. Repetition is widely used in both poetry and prose; throughout all genres and forms of literature and oral tradition. Aside from helping stress or highlight important thoughts and points, repetition can be a key tool for authors and speakers in developing style, tone, and rhythm.

II. Example of Repetition

Read the short passage below:

The big stairs led up to a big house with a big front door. Breathe, breathe, breathe, I told myself. I only have to stay for one second, be afraid for one second, not scream for one second. I can do it. I can win the bet. I can prove I’m brave.

The passage above uses several different styles of repetition to show the narrator’s anxiety. By repeating what the character thinks and sees, the author makes the situation more interesting.

III. Common Types of Repetition

There are many types of repetition in rhetoric, but below are some of the most common.

a. Epizeuxis

Epizeuxis is the repetition of a word in sequence. For example, “ Why , why , why ?!”

b. Anaphora

Anaphora is the repetition of a word at the beginning of each phrase or clause. For example, “She looked to the left, she looked to the right, she looked straight ahead.”

c. Mesodiplosis

Mesodiplosis is the repetition of a word in the middle of each phrase or clause. For example, “One, but not two; three, but not four; five, but not six.”

d. Epistrophe

Epistrophe is the repetition of a word at the end of each phrase or clause. For example, “Every day I’m happy because you love me , I’m more fulfilled because you love me , I have everything because you love me .”

IV. Importance of Repetition

Repetition is an important literary device because it allows a writer or speaker to place emphasis on things they choose as significant. It tells the reader or audience that the words being used are central enough to be repeated, and lets them know when to pay special attention to the language. Furthermore, repetition has historically been an important technique for oral tradition, as it helped storytellers remember details and lines that may have otherwise been difficult to repeat.

V. Examples in Literature

Celebrated classic children’s author Dr. Seuss frequently uses repetition in his quirky and eccentric stories. Below is a selection from One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish that demonstrates Dr. Seuss’s well-known, one-of-a-kind style:

One fish, Two fish, Red fish, Blue fish, Black fish, Blue fish, Old fish, New fish. This one has a little car. This one has a little star. Say! What a lot of fish there are. Yes. Some are red, and some are blue. Some are old and some are new. Some are sad, and some are glad, And some are very, very bad.

Dr. Seuss uses a combination of repetition and rhyming to craft this catchy story that everyone knows. One of the reasons his books are so unique is that he makes use of several types of repetition, which together create a whimsical, silly sounding style.

In the famous opening to A Tale of Two Cities , Charles Dickens utilizes repetition to add stress and emphasis to the positives and negatives of the time.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way—

Dickens’ famous words “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,” remain some of the most celebrated lines in literature to this day. The way he repeats the phrase “it was” makes his words stronger, more memorable, more effective, and more convincing.

VI. Examples of Repetition in Pop Culture

Repetition is a very popular way of adding stress and power when delivering a speech. Throughout history, people have used repetition to make sure that their audiences will remember and repeat their phrases and ideas; for example Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream”:

By repeating “I have a dream” throughout his speech, Martin Lurther King Jr. connects himself to these words and makes them stick in the audience’s minds.

In the classic romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally , Harry uses repetition to strengthen his grand New Year’s Eve speech to Sally:

By repeating the words “I love that…” over and over again, Harry is placing emphasis on the fact that he loves everything about Sally, good and bad. He repeats these words over and over with the hopes that she will realize that what he is saying is real and true, and that she will return his love.

VII. Related Terms

Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds, which creates rhyme. For example, “ the black cat had the rat’s bag;” “how now brown cow?” “do you do voodoo?”

Consonance is the repetition of a consonant sound at the middle or end of a word. For example, “ the cook broke his back;” “the duck struck some luck.”

• Alliteration

Alliteration is the repetition of a consonant sound at the beginning of a word. For example, “Lucy lacked love,” “the sand sizzled under the strong sun;” “the fox fixed the fax.” Alliteration is perhaps the most used form of sound repetition. One of the most popular examples is Mother Goose’s well-known nursery rhyme—

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers; A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked; If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers, Where’s the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?

Oftentimes, writers use some combination of the three types of sound repetition. For instance, “Splish splash splish splash” uses assonance, consonance, and alliteration all at once.

List of Terms

• Amplification
• Anachronism
• Anthropomorphism
• Antonomasia
• APA Citation
• Aposiopesis
• Autobiography
• Bildungsroman
• Characterization
• Circumlocution
• Cliffhanger
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• Doppelganger
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• Dramatic irony
• Equivocation
• Extended Metaphor
• Figures of Speech
• Flash-forward
• Foreshadowing
• Intertextuality
• Juxtaposition
• Literary Device
• Malapropism
• Onomatopoeia
• Parallelism
• Pathetic Fallacy
• Personification
• Point of View
• Polysyndeton
• Protagonist
• Red Herring
• Rhetorical Device
• Rhetorical Question
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• Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
• Synesthesia
• Turning Point
• Understatement
• Urban Legend
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Literary Devices

Literary devices, terms, and elements, definition of repetition, different types of repetition, poetic forms that use repetition, repetition examples from literature.

But for now Anders can still make time. Time for the shadows to lengthen on the grass, time for the tethered dog to bark at the flying ball, time for the boy in right field to smack his sweat-blackened mitt and softly chant, They is, They is, They is .

This excerpt of Wolff’s “Bullet to the Brain” contains the final two lines of the short story. The types of repetition represented here are anadiplosis, anaphora, and epizeuxis. The protagonist of the story has been reflecting on a grammatical error he heard as a young boy, and now in the last few moments of his life the phrase keeps repeating itself in his head. The effect in the story is to mimic the protagonist’s thought pattern as his brain starts to shut down.

I’ve known rivers: I’ve known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins. My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

Hughes uses different types of repetition here, including anaphora and conduplicatio. The effect of repetition in this poem is to make the poem sound as though it’s coming from a storyteller.

Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Though wise men at their end know dark is right, Because their words had forked no lightning they Do not go gentle into that good night. Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight, And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way, Do not go gentle into that good night. Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light. And you, my father, there on the sad height, Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray. Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

How the danger sinks and swells, By the sinking or the swelling in the anger of the bells, Of the bells, Of the bells, bells, bells, bells, Bells, bells, bells— In the clamor and the clangor of the bells!

This famous poem by Edgar Allen Poe features many different repetition examples, including epizeuxis, conduplicatio, and polyptoton. The word “bells” is repeated 62 times throughout the poem, often without words in between (epizeuxis). This particular type of repetition helps to make the poem sound much like the tolling of bells.

Test Your Knowledge in Repetition

1. Which repetition definition fits most aptly with the term anaphora? A.  A repeated word or phrase at the beginning of several lines. B.  A repeated word in the middle of every line or clause. C.  A repeated word at the end of every line or clause. [spoiler title=”Answer to Question #1″] Answer: A is correct.[/spoiler]

How the danger sinks and swells,— By the sinking or the swelling in the anger of the bells

A.  A b C / d e F / g h I / j k L / m n O / p q R S B.  A1 b A2 / a b A1 / a b A2 / a b A1 / a b A2 / a b A1 A2 C.  A1 b C1 / d e A2 / f g C2 / h i A3 / j k C3 / l m A4 C4 [spoiler title=”Answer to Question #3″] Answer: B is correct. A and C don’t accurately express the rhyme structure.[/spoiler]

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Home » Shakespeare's Works » Elements » Figures of Speech » Figures of Speech By Type » Repetition

Scholars joke that the three R's of rhetoric are repetition, repetition and repetition. An orator's success in part depends on an auditor's ability to understand and remember what the orator said. That is enhanced if an orator adheres to the old adage, “Tell them what you're you're going to say, say it, and then tell them what you said.” From this principle, a plethora of rhetorical devices evolved rooted in the art of repetition.

Examples include:

Alliteration.

Alliteration (al-lit’-er-a’-shen) is the repetition of an initial, stressed consonant sound for two or more words. “When to the sessions of sweet silent thought…” Sonnet 30.  Alliteration is different from consonance , which is the repetition of a consonant sound on stressed or unstressed syllables that are not always at the beginnings of words. The repetition of “s” sounds, alliterative or consonant, is called sibilance.

Anadiplosis

Anadiplosis (an’-a-di-plo’-sis) is the repetition of a word or phrase that ends one clause and begins the next. “Though Nature hath given us wit to flout at Fortune, hath not Fortune sent in this fool to cut off the argument?” As You Like It , 1.2.31 . Extended anadiplosis is called gradatio .

Anaphora (an-af’-o-ra) is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences. “O, cursèd be the hand that made these holes; / Cursèd the heart that had the heart to do it; / Cursèd the blood that let this blood from hence.”   Richard III, 1.2.1 See also mesodiplosis , the repetition of words in the middle, and epistrophe , the repetition of words at the end.

Antanaclasis

Antanaclasis (an’-ta-na-cla’-sis) is the repetition of a word with a shift of meaning. “In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, / From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, / Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.” Romeo and Juliet . 1.1.1.  Related to  adnominatio,   paronomasia  and  polyptoton .

Antimetabole

Antimetabole (an’-ti-me-ta’-bo-lee) is the repetition of words or phrases in an inverted or reverse order in which the phrases suggest opposing meanings. “How  /  much better is it to weep at joy than to joy at weeping!” Much Ado About Nothing. 1.1.13 . Antimetabole is a type of  chiasmus , which is a similar inversion but of actual words whose meanings are not necessarily opposite.  Chiasmus  is similar to  epanados,  which also repeats the terms after presenting them.

Assonance (ass’-o-nance) it the repetition or similarity of the same internal vowel sound in words of close proximity. “ Beauty’s ensign yet / Is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks.” Romeo and Juliet. 5.3.73

Chiasmus (ki-az’-mus) is the repetition of two corresponding phrases arranged in a parallel inverse order. The second half is balanced against the first but with the parts reversed. “Fair is foul, and foul is fair” Macbeth 1.1.1 .  Related to antimetabole , in which the two pairs suggest opposing or opposite meanings. Also similar to  epanados , which also repeats the terms after presenting them.

Consonance is the repetition of a consonant sound, but unlike alliteration the consonant does not always occur on the stressed syllable at the beginning of the word. “Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer / The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, / Or to take arms against a sea of troubles / And, by opposing, end them.” Hamlet, 3.1.64 .  The “s” sounds occur at the beginning, middle and ends of words, both stressed and unstressed. The repetition of an “s” sound in lines like this is also called sibilance.

Diacope (di-a’-co-pee) is the close repetition of words broken by one or two intervening words. “ Done like a Frenchman: turn and turn again.” Henry VI Pt. 1, 3.3.17 .

Epanados (e-pan’-o-dos) is the repetition of the chief points in a discourse, especially in reverse order of that in which they were previously treated. “Mine eye and heart are at a mortal war / How to divide the conquest of thy sight. / Mine eye my heart thy picture’s sight would bar, / My heart mine eye the freedom of that right. / My heart doth plead that thou in him dost lie, ” Sonnet 46 . It is a type of  chiasmus , which is the inversion of the verbal structure of phrases using the same words. Also similar to  antimetabole , in which the two phrases are not just inverted but suggest opposing meanings.

Epanalepsis

Epanalepsis is the repetition at the end of a clause of the word that occurred at the beginning of the clause. Repetition of words after intervening words for emphasis, or the repetition of words at beginning and end of line, phrase, clause, or sentence. “ Romans, countrymen, and lovers, hear me for my cause, and be silent, that you may hear. Believe me for mine honor, and have respect to mine honor, that you may believe.” Julius Caesar, 3.2.14

Epimone (e-pi’-mo-nee) is the repetition of a phrase or question; dwelling on a point. “Remember thee? / Ay, thou poor ghost, whiles memory holds a seat / In this distracted globe. Remember thee?” Hamlet, 1.5.99.

Epistrophe (e-pis’-tro-fee) is the repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses, lines, or sentences. “Is it possible he should know what he is, and be that he is ?” All’s Well That Ends Well,   4.1.45 . See also anaphora , the repetition of words at the beginning, and mesodiplosis , the repetition of words in the middle.

Epizeuxis (e-pi-zook’-sis) is the repetition of words or phrases without intervening words. “ O horror, horror, horror! / Tongue nor heart cannot conceive nor name thee! Macbeth, 2.3.73.

Isocolon (i-so-co’-lon) is a generic term for two or more clauses of equal length and parallel syntax and rhythm. When there are more than two, the figure can be more specifically named (though they are not in the quotes on this website) tricolons, tetracolons, etc . “ My gorgeous palace for a hermitage, / My gay apparel for an almsman’s gown, / My figured goblets for a dish of wood, / My scepter for a palmer’s walking-staff, / My subjects for a pair of carvèd saints.” Richard II, 3.3.148. This quote from Richard II strings five clauses of parallel syntax in sequence and, because the clauses all begin with the same word, this is also an example of anaphora .

Mesodiplosis

Mesodiplosis (mes-o-dip-lo’-sis) is the repetition of the same word or words in the middle of successive sentences or phrases. “But till that time / Come not thou near me. / And when that time comes, \ Afflict me with thy mocks, pity me not, / As till that time I shall not pity thee.” As You Like It, 3.5.39. See also anaphora , the repetition of words at the beginnings, and epistrophe , the repetition of words at the end.

Polyptoton is word play for words derived from the same root or cognate. Repeating words in different case forms. “ Love is not love / Which alters when it alteration finds, / Or bends with the remover to remove.” Sonnet 116 .  Related to antanaclasis ,  adnominatio  and paronomasia .

Polysyndeton

Polysyndeton is the repetition of conjunctions in a series of coordinate words, phrases, or clauses. “ Nor stony tower, nor walls of beaten brass, / Nor airless dungeon, nor strong links of iron, / Can be retentive to the strength of spirit.” Julius Caesar, 1.3.92.    See asyndeton , which omits all conjunctions between words or phrases in a series.

Pysma (pys’-ma) is the asking of a series of questions successively, usually rhetorically .  “Wherefore rejoice? What conquest brings he home? / What tributaries follow him to Rome, / To grace in captive bonds his chariot-wheels?” Julius Caesar, 1.1.36   Also see hypophora.

Rhyme is the repetition of vowel/consonant sounds that differ only in their initial consonant sounds, e.g., find, kind, mind. “She red and hot as coals of glowing fire,  / He red for shame, but frosty in desire.” Venus and Adonis, Line 35

Symploce is the repetition of a sentence with one or two words in the middle changed, e.g.  Saint Paul wrote, “Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I,” (2 Corinthians 11:22)

Synonymia is the stringing together a series of synonyms to emphasise a point. “How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable / Seem to me all the uses of this world!” Hamlet, 1.2.133

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L iterary devices aim to utilize words to communicate more efficiently and more effectively to readers and audiences. In this article, we’ll be taking a look at a literary device that aims to do just that simply by using the same word or phrase again and again. This is of course repetition.  Repetition may seem straightforward, but there are various types of repetition that are defined by how and where words or phrases are repeated. So, what is repetition actually used for? Let’s take a look at those types of repetition and how iconic writers have used them throughout history. 

what is repetition?

First, let’s define repetition.

Although there are various types of repetition, they all fall under the same definition. Let’s take a look at the repetition definition to better identify when it is being used. 

REPETITION DEFINITION

What is repetition.

Repetition is a literary device in which a word or phrase is used multiple times. Repetition can be found throughout literature. Most commonly, it is found in poetry and speeches to create rhythm or emphasize a word or phrase. There are various types of repetition defined by where and how words and phrases are repeated in a body of text. 

Famous Repetition Examples in Cinema:

• “You talkin’ to me? You talkin’ to me?” - Taxi Driver (1976)
• “Wax on. Wax off.” - Karate Kid (1984)
• “You don’t understand! I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I could’ve been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am.” - On the Waterfront (1954)

Repetition meaning

Function of repetition.

Repetition can be found throughout written literature and throughout verbal speeches. Why is it so common? Repetition is primarily effective at two things: emphasis and rhythm.

1. Emphasis

Simply repeating a phrase or word is an effective way at emphasizing specific ideas to a reader or audience. If a word or phrase appears only once, a reader may overlook it. When it is repeated, the word or phrase (and, by extension, the idea being communicated) registers more directly in the reader’s mind. 

Repetition can also create rhythm in text both written and spoken language. This is especially effective at engaging audiences when used in oral speeches. Speeches can become mundane if they become simply read. Repetition can create rhythm and musicality to a speech that more deeply engages audiences. 

Related Posts

• A Complete Guide to Literary Devices →
• What is Alliteration? Definition and Examples →
• How Writers Use Anaphora in Speeches & Dialogue →

Repetition examples

Types of repetition.

There are various types of repetition that are defined by structure and form. While all repetition has similar effects that we touched on above, different types of repetition can have different impacts.

1. Anaphora

Anaphora is the repetition of a word or group of words at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences. 

"What is Anaphora?"  •  A Literary Guide for English Students and Teachers

In the historical novel A Tale of Two Cities , Charles Dickens utilizes anaphora to create a memorable opening paragraph. 

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”

2. Epistrophe

Similar to anaphora is epistrophe . Epistrophe is the repetition of a word or group of words at the end of successive clauses or sentences. 

In her song “Single Ladies” Beyonce uses epistrophe in the chorus of the song. 

“‘Cause if you liked it then you should have put a ring on it

If you liked it then you should’ve put a ring on it

Don’t be mad once you see that he want it

If you liked it then you should’ve put a ring ”

3. Symploce

Symploce is the use of both anaphora and epistrophe. Bill Clinton famously used symploce in  his speech at the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum.

“When there is talk of hatred, let us stand up and talk against it. When there is talk of violence, let us stand up and talk against it.”

4. Mesodiplosis

The repetition of a word in the middle of a phrase or clause is known as mesodiplosis. An example of mesodiplosis can be found in the bible.

“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.”

5. Epizeuxis

One of the most simple types of repetition is epizeuxis. Epizeuxis is the repetition of a single word in sequence. An example of this can be found in the famous nursery rhyme "Row, Row, Row Your Boat." 

REPETITION LITERARY DEVICE

Repetition vs. repetition of sounds.

Within the realm of literary devices , repetition and repetition of sounds are often grouped together. However, there are key differences between literary devices that repeat words and phrases and literary devices that repeat specific sounds. To clarify this, let’s take a look at literary devices that repeat specific sounds. 

1. Consonance

The repetition of sounds made by consonants is known as consonance. A famous tongue twister example of this is “ Sh elley s ells sh ells by the s ea sh ore.” 

2. Assonance

Assonance is the repetitive use of vowel sounds within a single line of text. Often referred to as “vowel rhyming,” assonance typically utilizes recurring vowel sounds in the middle of consecutive words. 

These words have to be close together in a line of text so that the repetition of the vowel sound is more noticeable. For example, Edgar Allen Poe uses assonance in his poem “The Bells:”

"Hear the m e llow w e dding b e lls" 

3. Alliteration

Alliteration is a literary technique when two or more words are linked that share the same first consonant sound. In the famous song “Let it Be” by The Beatles the lyrics " Whisper words of wisdom …” are an example of alliteration. 

• A Complete List of Literary Devices →
• What is a Metaphor? Definition and Examples →
• Different Types of Irony Every Storyteller Should Know →

Explore more literary devices

Repetition is just one of many literary devices and types of figurative language , including anaphora , assonance , and alliteration . If you're a writer and want to develop your craft fully, do yourself a favor and continue this exploration. The next article on literary devices is a gateway to many of these tools that help add substance and style to any type of written work.

Up Next: Literary Devices Index →

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• Introduction
• Common figures of speech and their use

The five major categories

Figures of speech in non-western languages.

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In European languages, figures of speech are generally classified in five major categories: (1) figures of resemblance or relationship, (2) figures of emphasis or understatement, (3) figures of sound, (4) verbal games and gymnastics, and (5) errors. The first category comprises simile; metaphor; kenning (a concise compound or figurative phrase replacing a common noun, especially in Old Germanic, Old Norse, and Old English poetry), as in “whale-path” or “swan road” for “sea,” or “God’s beacon” for “sun”; conceit (usually a simile or metaphor that forms an extremely ingenious or fanciful parallel between apparently dissimilar or incongruous objects or situations), as in the Petrarchan conceit, which was popular with Renaissance writers of sonnets , a hyperbolic comparison most often made by a suffering lover of a beautiful beloved to some physical object—e.g., lips to cherries; parallelism (wherein phrases, sentences, and paragraphs are arranged so that they balance one element with another of equal importance and similar wording), as in Francis Bacon ’s essay “Of Studies”: “Reading maketh a full man, conference a ready man, and writing an exact man”; personification; metonymy; synecdoche; and euphemism (using a mild word or group of words instead of one that is unpleasant or offensive), as in “passed away” instead of “died.”

The second category entails figures of emphasis or understatement. Examples include hyperbole; litotes; rhetorical question; antithesis (strongly contrasting ideas placed in sharp juxtaposition), as in the saying “Art is long, and Time is fleeting”; climax (achieved by the arrangement of units of meaning—words, phrases, clauses, or sentences—in an ascending order of importance), as in a line from Pres. Abraham Lincoln ’s Gettysburg Address : “of the people, by the people, for the people”; bathos (an unsuccessful attempt to portray pathos in art, sometimes intentionally by authors for comedic effect and sometimes unintentionally), as in William Wordsworth ’s attempt to arouse pity for the old huntsman in “Simon Lee,” which is defeated by the following lines:

Few months of life has he in store As he to you will tell, For still, the more he works, the more Do his weak ankles swell.

Other figures of emphasis or understatement comprise paradox (an apparently self-contradictory statement in order to arrest attention and provoke fresh thought), as in Ludwig Mies van der Rohe ’s widely known principle “Less is more”; oxymoron (a word or group of words that is self-contradicting), as in “bittersweet”; and irony (wherein the real meaning of a statement is concealed or contradicted), as in Jane Austen ’s famous opening to Pride and Prejudice : “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”

The third category consists of figures of sound, e.g., alliteration (the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words or stressed syllables), as in “dead as a doornail”; repetition (use of the same word or phrase again and again for emphasis), as in a part of King Richard’s monologue before the final battle in William Shakespeare ’s Richard III :

My conscience hath a thousand several tongues, And every tongue brings in a several tale, And every tale condemns me for a villain.

Other devices of sound entail onomatopoeia and anaphora (the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of several sentences or clauses), as in Martin Luther King ’s “ I Have a Dream ” speech:

So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire . Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York . Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania.

The fourth category comprises verbal games and gymnastics. These include pun (a humorous use of a word in such a way as to suggest different meanings or applications, or a play on words), as the dying Mercutio quips in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet : “Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man”; and anagram (the transposing of the letters of a word or group of words to produce other words that possess meaning, preferably bearing some logical relation to the original), as in Florence Nightingale into “Flit on, cheering angel.”

The fifth category consists of errors, including malapropism (verbal blunder in which one word is replaced by another similar in sound but different in meaning), as when Amy, the youngest of the March sisters in Louisa May Alcott ’s Little Women , grumbles that her classmates “label your father if he isn’t rich” though she means “libel,” thus illustrating her humorous efforts to sound more grown-up; periphrasis (a roundabout or indirect manner of writing or speaking), as illustrated by Charles Dickens in the speech of the character Wilkins Micawber , who appears in David Copperfield :

“Under the impression,” said Mr. Micawber, “that your peregrinations in this metropolis have not as yet been extensive, and that you might have some difficulty in penetrating the arcana of the Modern Babylon in the direction of the City Road—in short,” said Mr. Micawber, in another burst of confidence, “that you might lose yourself—I shall be happy to call this evening, and install you in the knowledge of the nearest way.”

Other errors include spoonerism (a reversal of the initial letters or syllables of two or more words), such as “I have a half-warmed fish in my mind” (for “half-formed wish”) and “a blushing crow” (for “a crushing blow”). Figures involving a change in sense, such as metaphor , simile , and irony , are called tropes .

All languages use figures of speech, but differences of language dictate different stylistic criteria . Japanese poetry is based on delicate structures of implication and an entire vocabulary of aesthetic values almost untranslatable to the West. Arabic literature is rich in simile and metaphor, but the constructions used are so different from those familiar in the West that translation requires much adaptation . This condition is also true of the oral literatures of Africa and of the written literatures deriving from them.

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

What is a rhetorical device and why are they used.

As with all fields of serious and complicated human endeavor (that can be considered variously as an art, a science, a profession, or a hobby), there is a technical vocabulary associated with writing. Rhetoric is the name for the study of writing or speaking as a means of communication or persuasion, and though a writer doesn’t need to know the specific labels for certain writing techniques in order to use them effectively, it is sometimes helpful to have a handy taxonomy for the ways in which words and ideas are arranged. This can help to discuss and isolate ideas that might otherwise become abstract and confusing. As with the word rhetoric itself, many of these rhetorical devices come from Greek.

Ready, set, rhetoric.

The repetition of usually initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words or syllables

wild and woolly, threatening throngs

Syntactical inconsistency or incoherence within a sentence especially : a shift in an unfinished sentence from one syntactic construction to another

you really should have—well, what do you expect?

Repetition of a prominent and usually the last word in one phrase or clause at the beginning of the next

rely on his honor—honor such as his?

A literary technique that involves interruption of the chronological sequence of events by interjection of events or scenes of earlier occurrence : flashback

Repetition of a word or expression at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, sentences, or verses especially for rhetorical or poetic effect

we cannot dedicate—we cannot consecrate—we cannot hallow—this ground

The repetition of a word within a phrase or sentence in which the second occurrence utilizes a different and sometimes contrary meaning from the first

we must all hang together or most assuredly we shall all hang separately

The usually ironic or humorous use of words in senses opposite to the generally accepted meanings

this giant of 3 feet 4 inches

The use of a proper name to designate a member of a class (such as a Solomon for a wise ruler) OR the use of an epithet or title in place of a proper name (such as the Bard for Shakespeare)

The raising of an issue by claiming not to mention it

we won't discuss his past crimes

An expression of real or pretended doubt or uncertainty especially for rhetorical effect

to be, or not to be: that is the question

Harshness in the sound of words or phrases

An inverted relationship between the syntactic elements of parallel phrases

working hard, or hardly working?

A disjunctive conclusion inferred from a single premise

gravitation may act without contact; therefore, either some force may act without contact or gravitation is not a force

The substitution of a disagreeable, offensive, or disparaging expression for an agreeable or inoffensive one

greasy spoon is a dysphemism for the word diner

Repetition of a word or expression at the end of successive phrases, clauses, sentences, or verses especially for rhetorical or poetic effect

of the people, by the people, for the people

Emphatic repetition [ this definition is taken from the 1934 edition of Webster's Unabridged dictionary ]

An interchange of two elements in a phrase or sentence from a more logical to a less logical relationship

you are lost to joy for joy is lost to you

A transposition or inversion of idiomatic word order

judge me by my size, do you?

Extravagant exaggeration

mile-high ice-cream cones

The putting or answering of an objection or argument against the speaker's contention [ this definition is taken from the 1934 edition of Webster's Unabridged dictionary ]

Understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of the contrary

not a bad singer

The presentation of a thing with underemphasis especially in order to achieve a greater effect : UNDERSTATEMENT

A figure of speech in which a word or phrase literally denoting one kind of object or idea is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or analogy between them ( Metaphor vs. Simile )

drowning in money

A figure of speech consisting of the use of the name of one thing for that of another of which it is an attribute or with which it is associated

crown as used in lands belonging to the crown

The naming of a thing or action by a vocal imitation of the sound associated with it

A combination of contradictory or incongruous words

cruel kindness

The use of more words than those necessary to denote mere sense : REDUNDANCY

I saw it with my own eyes

A figure of speech comparing two unlike things that is often introduced by "like" or "as"

cheeks like roses

The use of a word in the same grammatical relation to two adjacent words in the context with one literal and the other metaphorical in sense

she blew my nose and then she blew my mind

A figure of speech by which a part is put for the whole (such as fifty sail for fifty ships ), the whole for a part (such as society for high society ), the species for the genus (such as cutthroat for assassin ), the genus for the species (such as a creature for a man ), or the name of the material for the thing made (such as boards for stage )

The use of a word to modify or govern two or more words usually in such a manner that it applies to each in a different sense or makes sense with only one

opened the door and her heart to the homeless boy

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Repetition Figure of Speech: Know How to Use this Figure of Speech?

You can use figures of speech to accentuate your writing skill. There are different types of figures of speech that you can use to improve your English skills. In this article, we will particularly talk about repetition and its use in literary work.

So keep reading this article till the end you will get an idea of how to use repetition figures of speech to amplify your work.

Also Read: Daily Routine English Conversation: Make Your Communication Skills Effective

What is Repetition?

Repetition is a figure of speech where a word or phrase is repeated more than one time to put emphasis. It attracts the attention of the readers to the specific phrase.

Types of Repetition

There are different types of repetition. Let us discuss them one by one:

#1. Epizeuxis: this is a repetition of words in a sequence such as “why why why”.

#2. Anaphora: this is a repetition of words in the beginning of each phase. For example, you should look left, you should look right, you should look straight while walking.

#3. Mesodiplosis: This is a repetition of words in the middle of any phrase and clause. For example, You should dance but not sing, cook but not eat, draw not sit.

#4. Epistrophe: In this type, the repetition of words at the end of each phrase. For example, I am so happy because you are with me, I am satisfied because you are with me, I am loving this because you are with me.

Also Read: Modern English Words Used in Conversation: Let’s Learn Effective English Speaking Ethics!

Importance of Repetition

Reputation is an important literary device because it allows writers and poets to put emphasis on the phrases that they choose. It attracts the attention of The reader or audience and helps them to understand the central idea of that phrase. Moreover, it is an important technique for oral tradition as there were a number of details a storyteller repeated.

Common Example

# I am thankful to my mother, I am thankful to my father, I am thankful to my friends and family for their constant support.

# I was scared about your safety, I was scared about his safety, I was scared about the safety of you all.

# I think I should start dancing, I think I should start hip-hop, I think I should also open an academy.

# Don’t worry about them, I will not worry about them.

# Happy, Happy, Happy Birthday to you.

# She was startled at his reaction and she continuously asked,”why, why, why.”

# I think I should start a diet, and you should start exercising.

Also Read: Hyperbole Figure of Speech: Get to Know the Definition, Uses and Examples

Literature Example

“Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow. “Oh, woeful, oh woeful, woeful, woeful day!” –Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet “And miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep.” –Robert Frost “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” “A horse is a horse, of course, of course, And no one can talk to a horse of course, That is, of course, unless the horse is the famous Mr. Ed.” –Theme Song from Mr. Ed, television show “My conscience hath a thousand several tongues, And every tongue brings in a several tale, And every tale condemns me for being a villain.” –Shakespeare, Richard III ” We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the tyrannical hands of the ministry and parliament. Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne.” –Patrick Henry to the Virginia Convention “The art of losing isn’t hard to master; so many things seem filled with the intent to be lost that their loss is no disaster… Lose something every day. Accept the fluster of lost door keys, the hour badly spent. The art of losing isn’t hard to master though it may look like (Write it!) like a disaster.” –One Art by Elizabeth Bishop “It was many and many a year ago, In a kingdom by the sea, That a maiden there lived whom you may know … I was a child and she was a child, In this kingdom by the sea, But we loved with a love that was more than love — I and my Annabel Lee …” –Annabel Lee by Edgar Allan Poe “Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light… And you, my father, there on the sad height, Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray. Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.” –Do not go gentle into that good night by Dylan Thomas “My dog has died. I buried him in the garden next to a rusted old machine. Some day I’ll join him right there, but now he’s gone with his shaggy coat, his bad manners and his cold nose, and I, the materialist, who never believed in any promised heaven in the sky for any human being, I believe in a heaven I’ll never enter. Yes, I believe in a heaven for all dogdom where my dog waits for my arrival waving his fan-like tail in friendship.” –A Dog has Died by Pablo Neruda.

Also Read: Simile Figure of Speech: Examples of Simile Figure of Speech

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