Anaphora

Anaphora Anaphora Definition In writing or speech, the deliberate repetition of the first part of the sentence in order to achieve an artistic effect is known as Anaphora. Anaphora, possibly the oldest literary device, has its roots in Biblical Psalms used to emphasize certain words or phrases. Gradually, Elizabethan and Romantic writers brought this device into practice. Examine the following psalm: “O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed. My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long?” The repetition of the phrase “O Lord,” attempts to create a spiritual sentiment. This is anaphora. Common Anaphora Examples It is common for us to use anaphora in our everyday speech, to lay emphasis on the idea we want to convey, or for self affirmation. The following are anaphora examples: “Every day, every night, in every way, I am getting better and better.” “My life is my purpose. My life is my goal. My life is my inspiration.” “Buying diapers for the baby, feeding the baby, playing with the baby: This is what your life is when you have a baby.” “I want my money right now, right here, all right?” “The wrong person was selected for the wrong job, at the wrong time, for the wrong purpose.” “Their property was sold, their homestead was sold, and their everything was sold for want.” “Who is to blame, who is to look to, who is to turn to, in a tough situation like this.” “In adversity, his close friends left him, his close colleagues left him, and his best close relatives left him.” “Everything looked dark and bleak, everything looked gloomy, and everything was under a blanket of mist.” “All the people were moving in the same direction; all the people were thinking about the same thing; and all the people were discussing the same topic.” “After a long term of studies, the students wanted to go home, they wanted to play, and they wanted to meet their parents and friends.” “The players were much exited for the tour; the players wished to do a lot of shopping; the players planned to go sightseeing.” “The young writer was given the award for his best seller. The young writer was exited to get the reward, and he decided to celebrate the occasion in a fitting manner.” “Tell them to be good, tell them to follow their elders, and tell them to mind their manners.” “The young athlete was in a decent uniform, and wanted to perform very well.” “My mother liked the house very much, but she couldn’t buy it.” “An apple fell on the head of a peasant, but he couldn’t grasp the laws of motion.” “The search party barely got to the middle of the desert, when a storm overtook it.” “The film was based on a true story, but it failed to get viewers’ attention.”