Repetitions of words and word groups

Definition of Repetition

Repetition is a literary device that involves intentionally using a word or phrase for effect, two or more times in a speech or written work. For repetition to be noticeable, the words or phrases should be repeated within close proximity of each other. Repeating the same words or phrases in a literary work of poetry or prose can bring clarity to an idea and/or make it memorable for the reader.

For example, in the statement “What you own ends up owning you,” own is repeated in two different ways. This repetition gives greater clarity to the meaning of the statement as a whole. Consumers often believe that they have power over what they acquire since they own it. However, the power of ownership over things is misleading in that often our things have power over us. What we acquire can limit and influence our lives in negative ways, such that our things are owning us. Therefore, repetition in this statement creates a clear meaning of the concept as well as making it memorable for the reader.

Common Examples of Repetition

Many common phrases in conversation and writing contain repetition. Here are some familiar examples of repetition:

• Time after time
• Heart to heart
• Boys will be boys
• Hand in hand
• Get ready; get set; go
• Hour to hour
• Sorry, not sorry
• Over and over
• Home sweet home
• Smile, smile, smile at your mind as often as possible.
• Alone, alone at last
• Now you see me; now you don’t
• Rain, rain go away
• All for one and one for all
• It is what it is

Examples of Repetition in Movie Lines

Many of the most famous quotes from movies contain repetition as a device. Here are some examples of repetition in movie lines:

• “Hey! I’m walking here! I’m walking here!” (Midnight Cowboy)
• “You talkin’ to me? You talkin’ to me? You talkin’ to me? Then who the hell else are you talkin’ to? You talkin’ to me? Well, I’m the only one here.” (Taxi Driver)
• “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)
• “Bond. James Bond.” (James Bond films)
• “Wax on. Wax off.” (The Karate Kid)
• “You is smart. You is kind. You is important.” (The Help)
• “Stupid is as stupid does.” (Forrest Gump)
• “Roads? Where we’re going, we don’t need roads.” (Back to the Future)
• “The first rule of Fight Club is: You do not talk about Fight Club.” (Fight Club)
• “You’re out of order! You’re out of order! The whole trial is out of order! They’re out of order!” (And Justice for All)

Famous Examples of Repetition

Think you haven’t heard of any famous examples of repetition? Here are some instances of repetition in famous speeches, writings, and quotations:

• Ashes To Ashes, dust to dust (English Book of Common Prayer)
• The sad truth is that the truth is sad. (Lemony Snicket)
• The horror! The horror! (Heart of Darkness)
• And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting (The Raven)
• And that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth (Gettysburg Address)
• O Captain! my Captain! (O Captain! My Captain!)
• Think and wonder, wonder and think (Dr. Seuss)
• Water, water everywhere, / Nor any drop to drink (The Rime of the Ancient Mariner)
• Words, words, words (Hamlet)
•  

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.

Consonance is the repetition of a consonant sound in a group of words, such as there is little butter in the bottle. Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds, such as this lake takes the cake. Alliteration is the repetition of a sound in the initial letter of a group of words, such as selling sails is somewhat silly.

Though repetitions of sounds are also effective literary devices, in general, the literary term repetition refers to the intentional use of recurring words and phrases in poetry or prose. However, in a broad sense, repetition as a literary device includes repeating sounds through consonance, assonance, and alliteration as well.

Writing Repetition

Repetition, as a literary device, functions as a means of reinforcing a concept, thought, or idea for a reader by repeating certain words or phrases. Writers that utilize repetition call attention to what is being repeated. This can generate greater focus on a particular subject and intensify its meaning.

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.

Here are some ways that writers benefit from incorporating repetition into their work:

Sense of Rhythm

Repetition of sounds, words, or phrases allows for a sense of rhythm in a literary work. This is particularly effective when it comes to poetry and speeches. Rhythm affects the pacing and musicality of wording and phrasing. Therefore, repetition creates a sense of rhythm that can change the experience a reader and/or listener has with a literary work.

Create Emphasis

Repeating a word or phrase in a work of poetry or prose calls attention to it on behalf of the reader. This creates emphasis by highlighting the importance of the word or phrase. Therefore, the reader is more likely to consider the meaning of the word or phrase in a deeper way. Additionally, such emphasis on a concept, a thought, or an idea can be persuasive on behalf of the reader by underscoring its significance.

Purpose of Repetition in Literature

As far as the purpose of repetition in literature is concerned, it has three specific functions that the writers and poets have in their minds when they use repetitions.

1. The first one is the stress upon some point so that it could reach its intended audiences.
2. The second is to create intended impacts on the audiences by repeating the same phrase such as “I have a dream” in the speech of the same title by Martin Luther King. This repetition also serves the purpose of persuading the audience or readers.
3. The third is to use repetition for melody and rhythm. It happens mostly in poetry though some prose writers such as Charles Dickens have used repetitions in prose for rhythm.

Use of Repetition in Sentences

1. I have talked to all and talked in full that they would have to do their work on time.
2. Most of the time and I say most of the time which means the maximum time you should spend on your studies.
3. Whether you take it literally or you take it seriously or whatever you take it non-seriously, it is necessary to stop driving at this moment.
4. Sometimes birds fly away and fly away so fast and so suddenly that it surprises the people.
5. Whether you leave this place or leave that place, the important point is you must leave right now.

Examples of Repetition in Literature

Repetition is a commonly used literary device. Here are some examples of repetition and how it adds to the value of well-known literary works:

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.

In this Shakespearean soliloquy, Macbeth is lamenting the death of his wife and repeats the word “tomorrow” three times. Macbeth’s repetition of this word calls attention to the fact that his wife no longer has any tomorrow, and that the tomorrows Macbeth has remaining will be a repetition of life without her.

The rhythm established by the repetition of tomorrow also serves to highlight a sense of futility and mundanity in a word that typically connotes the expectation of change or something new. Instead, the repetition of the word renders it meaningless and without the promise of hope. Therefore, just as Macbeth has accumulated nothing in the play, his accumulation of tomorrows also represents nothing.

 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.

In this poem, Neruda uses repetition of the word “heaven,” both as a place and a concept. This demonstrates the grief the poet feels for how death has separated him from the friendship of his dog. This is an interesting use of repetition as a literary device in that it is the separation of the poet from his dog through death that is emphasized, more than the dog’s actual death.

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.

The only way the poet can “join” his dog again is by dying and being buried in the same garden. However, this juxtaposition in burial is as meaningless as the “rusted old machine” next to them; it represents earthly decay rather than the promised afterlife of heaven and togetherness.

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.

In this passage, McCullers repeats the words “heart” and “child.” This repetition is an effective literary device in that it reinforces for the reader that the heart is both impressionable and vulnerable in children, just as a child is impressionable and vulnerable as well. By linking and repeating these words, McCullers provides clarity for readers that what is done to a child will affect their heart, and therefore affect their capacity for love and emotion for the remainder of their lives. Through repetition, McCullers conveys to the reader that the heart as an “organ” and a child are subject to the same pain and lasting consequences.

Synonyms of Repetition

There are several words that come very close to repetition in meanings such as reiteration, repeat, repeating, restatement, rephrasing, retelling, iteration, recital, recap, reprise, echo, echoing, copy, copying, and quoting.

Asked by: Prof. Neal Ullrich

Score: 5/5
(64 votes)

Stylistic devices play the greatest role in the analysis of any kind of literary text. Among other figures of speech, repetition is one of the widely used syntactic stylistic devices.

What is repetition in stylistics?

Repetition Definition Repetition is a literary device that repeats the same words or phrases a few times to make an idea clearer. There are several types of repetitions commonly used in both prose and poetry.

Is repetition a literary device?

Repetition is a literary device that involves using the same word or phrase over and over again in a piece of writing or speech. Writers of all kinds use repetition, but it is particularly popular in oration and spoken word, where a listener’s attention might be more limited.

Is repetition a rhetorical technique?

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.

What literary device involves repetition?

Anaphora. The literary device in which a phrase or word is repeated at the beginning of consecutive lines or clauses is known as anaphora. Apart from adding emphasis to the selected words, it contributes to the rhythm of a poem. The opposite of anaphora is epiphora.

17 related questions found

We see everywhere — in books, movies, music, and even commercials.

Advertisers use to craft catchy slogans that entice us to buy. Musicians use it to create songs that get stuck in our heads. Politicians use it to persuade nations.

But you? 

How can you use to spice up your and make it memorable?

I’ll show you how. 

But first, we need to start with the basics. So let’s define then jump into some examples. 

Shall we?

What is ? 

is a where words or phrases for . 

There are several different types of . For instance, is the of a consonant sound. 

You might remember this from your childhood:

“Sally sells seashells by the seashore.”

familiar?

But is used for more than just childhood tongue twisters. If used correctly, it’ll strengthen your by:

• Emphasizing your message
• Boosting memorability
• Adding
• Linking ideas or topics together

But I should issue a warning.

There’s a fine line between and .

For , take the following paragraph:

He raced to the grocery store. He went inside but realized he forgot his wallet. He raced back home to grab it. Once he found it, he raced to the car again and drove back to the grocery store.

“Raced” is repeated, but it doesn’t strengthen the sentences. Instead, it sounds like the author couldn’t think of better choices.  

What follows, then, is too many filler words that confuse the and lose their attention. 

Now compare that redundant paragraph to this :

It was the best of times,

it was the worst of times,

it was the age of wisdom,

it was the age of foolishness,

Do you see how compelling that is? 

It’s the opening to Charles Dickens’ novel, A Tale of Two Cities. 

Dickens’ draws his readers in and encourages them to keep turning the page. 

Can it do the same for you and your audience?

Yes. 

Let’s show you how to replicate this with more examples.

10 Types of with Examples 

is an umbrella that includes more specific types of stylistic tools, like , epistrophe, diacope, assonance, and others. 

And here’s a hint:

Each type of serves a unique purpose. The one you choose depends on what you’re trying to convey. 

So let’s talk about that next. 

1. Anaphora 

Anaphora is the of words at the beginning of . 

It’s common in music, poems, and children’s books that have a rhyming .

For , Nico and Vinz’s song “Am I Wrong?” features this anaphora:

So am I wrong for thinking that we could be something for real?

Now am I wrong for trying to reach the things that I can’t see?

Listen to how catchy this line sounds below:

Anaphora can also be used in speeches to motivate people. Dr. Martin Luther King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ included this :

Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi.

See what I mean? 

not only emphasized Dr. King’s point, but it made it more memorable and quotable. 

2. Epizeuxis

Epizeuxis is the of a or in immediate succession. 

Winston Churchill used epizeuxis in his address to Harrow School:

Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never-in nothing, great or small, large or petty-never give in, except to convictions of honor and good sense.

How’s that for a commencement ?

Churchill was known for his inspiring speeches that were packed full of powerful words and rhetorical devices. 

But while are common in speeches, they don’t stop there. Writers have used for ages.

For , in King Lear, William Shakespeare wrote:

And my poor fool is hanged! No, no, no life!

Why should a dog, a horse, a rat have life,

And thou no breath at all? Thou’lt come no more,

Never, never, never, never!

In the scene above, King Lear is grieving the death of his daughter. The use of epizeuxis is a perfect choice for this scene because it strengthens the emotion.

3. Epistrophe 

Epistrophe, also called “epiphora,” uses at the end of independent clauses or sentences. 

Many writers and speakers use epistrophe to drive home their points. 

Abraham Lincoln achieved this in his “Gettysburg Address”:

Government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Powerful, isn’t it?

Many musicians also love using frequent to add a to their songs and make them catchy. 

And they’re right. 

We see it in Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” song:

‘Cause if you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it

If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it

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

4. Negative-Positive Restatement

A negative-positive restatement states an idea twice, first in negative terms and then in positive terms. These are typically “not this, but that” statements. 

For , John F Kennedy said:

“Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country”  

Another famous negative-positive restatement comes from Martin Luther King. He said:

“Freedom is not given; it is won.”

5. Diacope  

Diacope is the of a or , separated by intervening words. It comes from the Greek thiakhop, which means “cutting in two.”

(If it helps, think of diacope as “spaced repetition”)

My favorite comes from Michael Jordan. He said:

“I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” 

Jordan first said this in a Nike ad. You can watch this short commercial below. I promise you won’t be disappointed:

Speaking of commercials, Maybelline uses a diacope in their tagline when they say, “Maybe she’s born with it; maybe it’s Maybelline.”

6. Epanalepsis 

Epanalepsis repeats words or phrases at the beginning and the end of the same or . 

For :

“Control, control, you must learn control,” said Yoda in The Empire Strikes Back.

Check it out:

Epanalepsis puts a heavy on the idea you’re trying to convey. 

It also uses the “primacy” and “recency” effects which means the first and last thing we hear is more likely to stick in our minds. 

Some politicians love this technique. Politicians like John F Kennedy. 

He used this in his address to the United Nations:

Mankind must put an end to war — or war will put an end to mankind.

7. Epimone

Epimone uses to dwell on a point. It’s commonly used in stories where a character is pleading or commanding someone to do something. 

We saw it in Oliver Goldsmith’s play, She Stoops to Conquer: 

I tell you, sir, I’m serious! And now that my passions are roused, I say this house is mine, sir; this house is mine, and I command you to leave it directly.

Epimone is also used to illustrate persistence. For , in Webster’s address to the Senate, he said:

The cause, then, Sir, the cause! Let the world know the cause which has thus induced one State of the Union to bid defiance to the power of the whole, and openly to talk of secession.

8. Polyptoton 

Polyptoton involves the of words that derive from the same root . 

Here’s a famous quote from John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton:

“Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

Remember that one?

“Absolute” and “absolutely” are , but they derive from the same root . 

Polyptoton is common in headlines and book titles too. 

Heidi Murkoff’s popular book on pregnancy is titled What to Expect When You’re Expecting

Here’s a screenshot of the cover page:

9. Antistasis 

Antistasis uses to contrast two ideas. It derives from the Greek “to stand against” or “opposing position.”

For , when someone asks you:

“Are you working hard or hardly working?”

That’s an antistasis because it contrasts two ideas on work. 

Advertisers use this technique too. The tagline of the Starkist Tuna commercials was:

“Sorry, Charlie. StarKist wants tuna that tastes good, not tuna with good taste.“

Do you see how the of those contrasting ideas makes you stop and think? 

That’s the goal. 

10. Antanaclasis 

Antanaclasis repeats the same or but with a different each time. This is also known as a pun because it’s a play on words. 

Benjamin Franklin used it when he said, “Your argument is , nothing but .” 

In the first part, he said the argument is solid. In the second, he discounted it as noise. 

Vince Lombardi, a famous football coach, also used antanaclasis when he stated:

“If you aren’t fired with enthusiasm, you will be fired with enthusiasm.”

See how easy that is?

Stating the same phrases in a makes them wittier.

Examples of in  

Surprise, surprise:

Some of the best come from books and poems.

It didn’t take long for many of the world’s most famous writers — like Shakespeare and Maya Angelou — to understand the power of this .

For , Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare used when he said:

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

Oh, woeful, oh woeful, woeful, woeful day!

In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, he used in to emphasize his point:

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

The “small” highlights to the how tiny Tom’s apartment is.

Maya Angelou also knew how to use this literary technique to her advantage. In her , Still I Rise, she said:

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear

I rise

Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear

I rise

Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,

I am the dream and the hope of the slave.

I rise

I rise

I rise.

This in emphasizes Angelou’s main point and signifies her strength. 

Famous Examples of in Pop Culture 

is common in music because it makes it easy to sing along with the lyrics.

Here’s an from Elvis Presley’s “Hound Dog”:

You ain’t nothin’ but a hound dog

Cryin’ all the time

You ain’t nothin’ but a hound dog

Cryin’ all the time

We also see all the time in movies. 

Why?

Because it gives us quotable movie lines that stand the test of time. Here’s a famous from Taxi Driver:

You talkin’ to me? You talkin’ to me? You talkin’ to me? Then who the hell else are you talkin’ to? You talkin’ to me? Well, I’m the only one here.

Hear this quote in action:

And then, of course, another famous comes from the James Bond series. James Bond always introduces himself as “Bond. James Bond.”

Why Write with ? 

Let me ask you:

If there was an easy way to be more memorable, would you do it?

And if you could easily add to your message, would you do it?

Of course you would. 

Just by using  in one or paragraph, you can:

• Make your point more convincing
• Increase memorability
• Add flow to your
• Make your words
• Link topics or ideas together

Think of it this way.

There’s a reason why some of history’s most famous speakers used  Winston Churchill, JFK, and Martin Luther King used it because it works. 

It makes your more persuasive, quotable, and memorable. And in , that’s considered the triple threat. 

Ready to Put These to Work?

Using is simple.

Start by choosing an idea that you want to emphasize. Then words that that idea and make your prose more quotable. 

But a friendly reminder:

Don’t overuse . Just use it on thoughts or ideas that you want to carry a significant impact, or else it’ll lose its effect. 

Remember my from earlier?

You don’t want to look like a lazy who couldn’t design a better way to your message.

Instead, use it like David Schwartz when he said:

“The mind is what the mind is fed.”

See how that works? Now go try it for yourself.

You’ve got this. 

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.

From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life;

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 …
stills the winds asleep in the solid drift …»

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 singing this hymn, which swelled high about the howling of the storm …

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.

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. 

2. Rhythm

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. 

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. 

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 “Shelley sells shells by the sea shore.” 

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 mellow wedding bells» 

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. 

UP NEXT

How Writers Use Alliteration 

Looking to learn more about the repetition of sounds? The most fundamental and common is alliteration. In our next article, we take a look at the alliteration definition and analyze examples in both literature, advertising, and film to understand its effects. 

Up Next: Alliteration Explained →