This line is so memorable for a reason.
It's a perfect use of antimetabole: the repetition of a phrase in successive clauses, but with its word order reversed.
Here are 8 more rhetorical devices to make your writing or speaking more memorable:
It's a perfect use of antimetabole: the repetition of a phrase in successive clauses, but with its word order reversed.
Here are 8 more rhetorical devices to make your writing or speaking more memorable:
1. Polyptoton
The repeated use of words with the same root, like destroy, destroyer, and destroyed.
The repeated use of words with the same root, like destroy, destroyer, and destroyed.
2. Anadiplosis
The repetition of the last word of a clause at the beginning of the next.
The repetition of the last word of a clause at the beginning of the next.
3. Anaphora
The use of the same word or words at the start of successive clauses or sentences.
The use of the same word or words at the start of successive clauses or sentences.
4. Epizeuxis
The immediate repetition of a word or phrase.
The immediate repetition of a word or phrase.
5. Epanalepsis
The repetition of a word at the start and end of a clause.
The repetition of a word at the start and end of a clause.
6. Antithesis
The use (and contrast) of two opposing ideas in a single clause or sentence.
The use (and contrast) of two opposing ideas in a single clause or sentence.
7. Aysndeton
The omission of a conjunction (e.g. and, or) from a series of related clauses.
The omission of a conjunction (e.g. and, or) from a series of related clauses.
8. Anastrophe
The inversion of normal word order.
The inversion of normal word order.
You may have noticed that some of these examples use multiple rhetorical devices.
Like JFK's famous line: this is a combination of both antimetabole and antithesis.
Like JFK's famous line: this is a combination of both antimetabole and antithesis.
And that's the beauty of rhetorical devices.
They can be layered and combined to create highly textured language which is rich with meaning - and instantly memorable.
They can be layered and combined to create highly textured language which is rich with meaning - and instantly memorable.
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