Antimetabole

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In rhetoric, antimetabole (/æntɪməˈtæbəl/ AN-ti-mə-TAB-ə-lee) is the repetition of words in successive clauses, but in transposed order; for example, "I know what I like, and I like what I know". It is related to, and sometimes considered a special case of, chiasmus.

An antimetabole can be predictive, because it is easy to reverse the terms. It may trigger deeper reflection than merely stating one half of the line.[1]

It is derived from the Greek ἀντιμεταβολή (antimetabolḗ), from ἀντί (antí, 'against, opposite') and μεταβολή (metabolḗ, 'turning about, change').

Examples

Proverbs

Literature

Literary criticism

Politics

  • "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country." — John F. Kennedy, 1961 inaugural address
  • "And we'll lead, not merely by the example of our power, but by the power of our example." — Joe Biden, 2021 inaugural address[7]
  • "There is no 'way to peace'. Peace is the way." — A. J. Muste

Music

Comedy

See also

References

Related Articles

Wikiwand AI