Prose & StyleFoundational
Repetition
The return of words, structures, images, or sounds.
Principle
Repetition creates pattern; variation creates meaning.
Takeaways
- It can build rhythm, obsession, motif, or argument.
- Exact repetition and transformed repetition do different work.
- Accidental repetition feels slack; designed repetition gathers force.
Overview
Repetition is one of literature's basic ordering devices. It makes language memorable, creates expectation, and lets change become visible against return.
Examples
- A phrase of comfort returns later as accusation.
- A paragraph repeats the same syntactic opening until the final sentence breaks it.