What is Anaphora?
Anaphora is the intentional repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences. It is a stylistic literary device used to add emphasis and meaning to text or speech.
How to pronounce Anaphora?
When do writers use Anaphora?
Writers use anaphora when they want to emphasize text or speech to make it more memorable and add meaning to the words.
How to use Anaphora?
When using anaphora, it is important to ensure that the repeated word or phrase is appropriate for the context and used consistently throughout the text. Some writers prefer to stick with a Rule of 3, meaning that a repeated word or phrase is repeated exactly 3 times and no more. Keep in mind that repetition for repetition’s sake is not the same thing as anaphora. This type of repetition can make your writing come off as tired and lazy rather than powerful and impactful.
Types of Anaphora
Typically speaking, and to keep things less confusing, anaphora does not have “types.” However, some argue the differentiation between pronouns (i.e., personal, central, and the grouping of personal, number, and gender) constitutes 3 individual types. Making things even more complicated, more advanced schools of thought tend to break this typing into 7 or more distinct forms of anaphora.
Having said that, for such a powerful literary tool, anaphora is not a difficult or complicated literary device to master. Although, it is often confused with repetition and its polar opposite, epistrophe.
Anaphora in Literature 📚
While not literature in the proper sense as some might argue, nonetheless, Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “I Have a Dream” has become entrenched in American history and education as a prime example of American literature and anaphora. Note how he begins each sentence with the phrase, “I have a dream.”
“I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state, sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today.”
Charles Dickens, “A Tale of Two Cities,” – note how each sentence begins with the clause, “It was the,” “we had,” and “we were.”
“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”
J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye – In this example, Salinger uses what some refer to as the Rule of 3, meaning he repeated the phrase exactly 3 times.
“It rained on his lousy tombstone, and it rained on the grass on his stomach. It rained all over the place.”
Anaphora in Children’s Literature and Nursery Rhyme 🧸
When used in children’s literature and nursery rhymes, you may find that the words take on a sing-songy sound and feel. As an added bonus, anaphora is easily identified in these works because they need to be easily understood by children.
“Mary Had a Little Lamb” –
“Mary had a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb,
Mary had a little lamb, whose fleece was white as snow.
Everywhere that Mary went, Mary went, Mary went,
Everywhere that Mary went, that lamb was sure to go.”
The Cat in the Hat,” Dr. Seuss – “Look at me! Look at me! Look at me NOW!”
The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” Eric Carle –
“He ate through one apple, he ate through two apples, he ate through three apples, he ate through four apples.”
Anaphora in Songs 🎧
Sam Cook,“Wonderful World” –
“Don’t know much about history,
Don’t know much about biology.
Don’t know much about a science book,
Don’t know much about the French I took”
Johnny Cash, “I Walk the Line,”
“I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep my eyes wide open all the time
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
Because you’re mine, I walk the line”
Lincoln Park, “Pushing Me Away” –
“Why I never walked away
Why I played myself this way
Now I see you’re testing me pushes me away
Why I never walked away
Why I played myself this way
Anaphora in Poetry ✍🏽
Maya Angelou, “Still I Rise” –
“You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise”
From her inaugural poem, Amanda Gorman, “The Hill We Climb” –
Example: “No way man! That’s not true.”
“Every breath from my bronze-pounded chest,
We will raise this wounded world into a wondrous one.
We will rise from the gold-limbed hills of the west.
We will rise from the windswept northeast,
where our forefathers first realized revolution.
We will rise from the lake-rimmed cities of the midwestern states.
We will rise from the sunbaked south.
We will rebuild, reconcile and recover.”
Anaphora in Movies 🎥
Good Will Hunting (1997) –
So if I asked you about art you’d probably give me the skinny on every art book ever written… But I bet you can’t tell me what it smells like in the Sistine Chapel…
If I asked you about women you’d probably give me a syllabus of your personal favorites… But you can’t tell me what it feels like to wake up next to a woman and feel truly happy…
I ask you about war, and you’d probably, uh, throw Shakespeare at me, right?… But you’ve never been near one. You’ve never held your best friend’s head in your lap and watched him gasp his last breath, looking to you for help…
Anaphora in Advertising 📺
- “Pro camera. Pro display. Pro Performance” – Apple’s iPhone 11 Pro
- “Real ingredients. Real Taste.” – Knorr Selects
- “Open a Coke, Open happiness” – Coca-Cola
- “Always smooth. Always Luckies.” – Lucky Strike cigarettes
Anaphora related literary devices 👥
- Epistrophe – The opposite of anaphora. Epistrophe is the repetition of a word or phrase at the end of a clause or sentence rather than the beginning. Writers use epistrophe for much the same reasons they favor its counterpart, but the two are not interchangeable. the same reasons they favor its counterpart, but the two are not interchangeable. people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
- Repetition – When a word or phrase is repeated multiple times to add clarity or meaning, While anaphora and epistrophe are types of repetition, they are distinct types and not the same thing.
FAQ 🤔
What is anaphora in literature?
Anaphora is a rhetorical device that involves the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive sentences, clauses, or lines to create a lyrical effect, emphasize a point, or convey a strong emotion or argument.
How does anaphora enhance a text?
Anaphora enhances a text by adding rhythm, creating emphasis, and making the message more memorable. This repetition can evoke emotions, build up a sense of urgency or importance, and help to unify a section of text by tying sentences or lines together thematically.
Can anaphora be found in both poetry and prose?
Why do speakers and writers use anaphora?
Speakers and writers use anaphora to draw attention to a key theme or idea, increase the emotional appeal of their language, and reinforce their message. It’s a powerful tool in speeches and persuasive texts to rally support, create a memorable phrase, or emphasize a significant point.
How can I identify anaphora in a text?
To identify anaphora, look for the deliberate repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of consecutive sentences, clauses, or lines. This pattern of repetition is usually easy to spot and is often used to highlight important concepts or themes within the text.