Parallelism: Literary Device

Etymology of Parallelism

The literary device parallelism is a foreign term. It originated from the Greek word parallēlismos, which means “a placing alongside” or “a side-by-side comparison.” The concept of parallelism has been used in various fields, including mathematics, linguistics, and literature, and refers to the repetition or similarity of structures or patterns in adjacent or corresponding elements.

Meanings of Parallelism

1. Parallelism in Literature:
   • Symmetrical Parallelism: A literary technique that involves repeating similar grammatical structures, phrases, or clauses to create balance and rhythm in a sentence or paragraph.
   • Antithetical Parallelism: It presents contrasting ideas or opposites in parallel grammatical structures, often used to emphasize the differences between concepts.
2. Parallelism as a Rhetorical Device:
   • Anaphora: A rhetorical device where words or phrases are repeated at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences for emphasis or dramatic effect.
   • Chiasmus: A figure of speech that involves reversing the order or structure of two parallel phrases or clauses to create an inverted symmetry.
3. Parallelism as a General Term:
   • Similarity or Comparison: Describing two or more things that have corresponding characteristics or features.
   • Equality or Equivalence: The state of being equal or having the same value or importance.
4. Parallelism in Sentence Structure:
5. Parallel Clauses: The use of similar grammatical structures such as verb forms, in a series of clauses within a sentence. Example: She likes to swim, to run, and to hike.
6. Parallel Phrases: The use of similar grammatical structures such as noun phrases or prepositional phrases, in a series within a sentence. Example: The cat slept peacefully, curled up on the couch, or stretched lazily in the sun

Parallelism in Grammar

In grammar, it is the use of similar grammatical structures, forms, or patterns in adjacent or corresponding parts of a sentence, clause, or phrase. This involves repeating the same grammatical

Definition of Parallelism

As a literary device, it refers to the use of similar structures or patterns in sentences, phrases, or clauses. It involves repeating grammatical or syntactical elements to create balance, rhythm, and emphasis in a text. By employing parallelism, writers can enhance the impact and effectiveness of their writing by creating a sense of harmony and cohesion.

Types of Parallelism

There are several types of parallelism, including:

Type	Definition	Example
Grammatical parallelism	Using the same grammatical structure or form for two or more words or phrases in a sentence	“She enjoys swimming, biking, and hiking.”
Antithetical parallelism	Contrasting two ideas or concepts using parallel structures	“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” – Charles Dickens
Climactic parallelism	Arranging a series of phrases or clauses in ascending order of importance	“I came, I saw, I conquered.” – Julius Caesar
Isocolon	Creating parallel clauses or phrases of the same length and structure	“Buy one, get one free.”
Chiasmus	Creating a crosswise pattern of parallel structures	“Fair is foul, and foul is fair.” – William Shakespeare
Anaphora	Repeating the same word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences	“I have a dream… I have a dream… I have a dream.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
Epiphora	Repeating the same word or phrase at the end of successive clauses or sentences	“We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall never surrender.” – Winston Churchill
Assonance	Creating a pattern of repeating vowel sounds within words	“fleet feet sweep by sleeping geeks.”
Consonance	Creating a pattern of repeating consonant sounds within words	“pitter patter of little feet.”
Alliteration	Creating a pattern of repeating initial consonant sounds in adjacent or closely connected words	“Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.”

Literary Examples of Parallelism

Example	Type	Explanation
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness…” A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens	Antithetical parallelism	Dickens employs antithetical parallelism to contrast the extremes of life in London and Paris during the French Revolution.
“Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take arms against a sea of troubles…” Hamlet by William Shakespeare	Grammatical parallelism	Shakespeare uses grammatical parallelism to balance two alternatives – enduring suffering or taking action – in Hamlet’s soliloquy.
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen	Grammatical parallelism	Austen uses grammatical parallelism to create a memorable and humorous opening line that highlights the social expectations and pressures of the time.
“I came, I saw, I conquered.” Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare	Isocolon	Shakespeare employs isocolon to create a concise and impactful statement, emphasizing Julius Caesar’s triumphant military conquests.
“To be, or not to be, that is the question.” – Hamlet by William Shakespeare	Antithetical parallelism	Shakespeare uses antithetical parallelism to present the fundamental existential dilemma faced by Hamlet – the choice between life and death.

Suggested Readings

1. Abrams, M. H. A Glossary of Literary Terms. Wadsworth Publishing, 2008.
2. Baldick, Chris. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms. Oxford University Press, 2004.
3. Brooks, Cleanth, and Robert Penn Warren. Understanding Poetry. Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 2000.
4. Cuddon, J. A. A Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary Theory. Wiley-Blackwell, 2013.
5. DiYanni, Robert. Literature: Approaches to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. McGraw-Hill, 2019.
6. Kennedy, X. J., and Dana Gioia. Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing. Pearson, 2017.
7. Lanham, Richard A. A Handlist of Rhetorical Terms. University of California Press, 1991.
8. Meyer, Michael. The Bedford Introduction to Literature: Reading, Thinking, Writing. Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2020.
9. Preminger, Alex, et al., editors. The Princeton Encyclopedia of Poetry and Poetics. Princeton University Press, 2012.
10. Roberts, Edgar V., and Henry E. Jacobs. Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. Pearson, 2017.