5. Break-in-the-narrative (aposiopesis)

Break-in-the-narrative, or aposiopesis, is a sudden break in speech as if the speaker was unwilling or unable to express what is on his mind. This stop-short often occurs in oral speech. In printing it refers to a mark or series of marks that usually indicate an intentional omission of a word or a phrase from the original text. It can also be used to indicate a pause in speech, an unfinished thought or, at the end of a sentence, a trailing off into silence.

Break-in-the-narrative I apologize, madam, I feel so … I wouldn’t have troubled to…

6. Parallelism

Parallelism means to give two or more parts of the sentences a similar form in order to give the whole a definite pattern. It is structural similarity of successive phrases, clauses and sentences. It is observed in paragraphs.

Parallelism "The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessing; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries." (Churchill)

Parallelism can be of 2 types: complete and partial. We speak of complete parallelism when successive sentences fully coincide in their structure. In case of partial parallelism successive sentences are similar only to some extent.

Complete parallelism: The warm sun is failing, the bleak wind is wailing. The bare bows are sighing, the pale flowers are dying. Partial parallelism: The wind blew faster, it dragged now at his coat, it blew its space about him, it echoed silently a lonely spaciousness.

Very often parallelism is combined with other syntactical devices, such as gradation and antithesis, which are based on parallel sentences.

Gradation is a syntactical pattern in which every following structure or unit is more significant that the preceding one.

Gradation I wanted to explain, I wanted to come down from the witness box and tell them that I’d loved Joey, I’d worshiped Joey, I’d do anything to make him come alive again.

In antithesis one thing or concept is contrasted to its opposite.

Antithesis Life is much flattered, death is much traduced. Son looked perplexed, and other people looked profound.

7. Chiasmus (reversed parallelism)

Chiasmus is a variant of parallel construction. It is a verbal pattern in which the second half of an expression is balanced against the first with the parts reversed. It consists of two similarly built sentences, but the word order of the first sentence is inverted in the second sentence.

Chiasmus I know what I like and I like what I know. Pleasure is a sin, and sometimes sin is a pleasure. "Mankind must put an end to war or war will put an end to mankind." (John F. Kennedy)

8. Repetition

Repetition is a major rhetorical strategy for producing emphasis, clarity, amplification, or emotional effect. Repetition is often found in oral colloquial speech when the speaker is overcome with strong emotions. As a stylistic device the writer can use it to draw the reader’s attention to something important.

Repetition can be of different types:

• Anaphora – repetition of the initial parts of successive units.

• Epiphora – repetition of final parts of successive units

• Anadiplosis (catch-repetition) – repetition of the final part of the first sentence at the beginning of the second sentence.

• Chain repetition – development of catch repetition. Each subsequently repeated word is higher and stronger in the degree of quality and emotional colouring.

• Framing (ring-repetition) – repetition of the initial part of the sentence at the end.

• Extended repetition – repetition of a word with words modifying it.

Anaphora My heart’s in the Highland, my heart is not here, My heart’s in the Highlands, a-chasing a deer… (Burns) Epiphora I wake up, and I’m alone, I walk around Warley, and I’m alone, I talk with people, and I’m alone. Anadiplosis With her on my knee, I was then happy, happy at least in my own way. Chain repetition A smile would come into Mr. Pickwick’s face, the smile extended into a laugh, the laugh — into a roar, and the roar became general. (Dickens) Framing Money is what he’s after, money. Extended repetition Pain, even slight pain tends to isolate.