Parallelism Definition

Parallelism is the use of components in a sentence that are grammatically the same; or similar in their construction, sound, meaning
or meter. Parallelism examples are found in literary works as well as in ordinary conversations.
Common Parallelism Examples

Like father, like son.

The escaped prisoner was wanted dead or alive.

Easy come, easy go.

Whether in class, at work or at home, Shasta was always busy.

Flying is fast, comfortable, and safe.

I. What is Parallelism?

Parallelism, also known as parallel structure, is when phrases in a sentence have similar or the same grammatical
structure. In its most basic usage, parallelism provides a phrase with balance and clarity. Parallelism also serves to
give phrases a pattern and rhythm.

For example:

Thats one step for man, one giant leap for mankind.

When Neil Armstrong first stepped foot onto the moon, he said what would become a famous quote. In this
example, parallelism occurs in the repetition of one for . Both phrases also follow the same grammatical
structure:

One step (action) for (preposition) man (noun) one leap (action) for (preposition) mankind (noun).

Parallelism is the term used to refer to the repetition of similar grammatical constructions in a sentence or over
successive lines of prose or poetry. Parallelism helps to create coherence by adding rhythm and flow to sentences
and lines of text.
Examples of Parallelism:

1. On vacation, our family went fishing, went swimming, and went horse-back riding.
2. I am woman; I am mother; I am fierce.
3. In class, at work, and on the field, Martin strives for excellence.
4. Easy come, easy go.
5. The phone was ringing, the dishes were washing, and the dinner was burning.

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.

As a rhetorical device, it could be a word, a phrase or a full sentence or a poetical line repeated to emphasize its significance in the
entire text. Repetition is not distinguished solely as a figure of speechbut more as a rhetorical device.
Types of Repetition

The following examples of repetition are classified according to the different types of repetition used both in literature and in daily
conversations.

Anadiplosis: Repetition of the last word in a line or clause.

Anaphora: Repetition of words at the start of clauses or verses.

Antistasis: Repetition of word s or phrases in opposite sense.

Diacope: Repetition of words broken by some other words.

Epanalepsis: Repetition of same words at the end and start of a sentence.

Epimone: Repetition of a phrase (usually a question) to stress a point.

Epiphora: Repetition of the same word at the end of each clause.

Gradatio: A construction in poetry where the last word of one clause becomes the first of the next and so on.

Negative-Positive Restatement: Repetition of an idea first in negative terms and then in positive terms.

Polyptoton: Repetition of words of the same root with different endings.

Symploce: It is a combination of anaphora and epiphora in which repetition is both at the end and at the beginning.

Repetition Examples from Literature

Example 1
Im nobody! Who are you?
Are you nobody too?
Then theres a pair of us-dont tell!
Theyd banish us you know.

These lines have been taken from Im nobody! Who are You? by Emily Dickinson. Observe how she has used nobody to
emphasize her point in her poem to create an association with the person she is talking about.
Example 2
Because I do not hope to turn again
Because I do not hope
Because I do not hope to turn

Parallelism is the deliberate repetition of phrases or even clauses of the same kind. This is a powerful technique. Inexperienced
writers often assume that they cannot repeat the same phrase or clause structures. But that is a wrong assumption. Parallelism
within the sentence is highly desirable.

Repetition of Key Words

Use deliberate repetition of key words to emphasize your main points. Use this technique sparingly, however; too much repetition leads to
monotony.