Etymology of Repetition
The term “repetition” comes from the Latin word repetitio, which means “repetition, recitation, or rehearsal.” Its derivative is the verb repetere, which means “to demand again, or to repeat.”
The prefix “re-” means “again,” and “petere” means “to seek, to ask for.” Therefore, repetition refers to the act of repeating something already been said or done.
Literal Meanings of Repetition
| Type of Repetition | Definition | Purpose |
| Communication | The act of repeating something already said or done. | Often used for emphasis or clarity. |
| Music | The repeating of a musical phrase or motif. | Creates familiarity and tension in the music. |
| Literature | Often used for rhetorical effect. | Emphasizes a particular point in the text. |
| Psychology and Therapy | The act of repeating a behavioral trait or thought. | A powerful tool for establishing new patterns of behavior and thought. |
Repetition in Grammar
- A repetition is a noun with its plural form as “repetitions.”
- The verb used with “repetition” depends on the context.
- In the case of a specific repetition of a musical phrase, we might use a singular verb. For instance, “The repetition was effective.”
- When referring to multiple repetitions of a behavioral trait, a plural verb is employed. For instance, “The repetitions have strengthened the neural pathways.”
Definition of Repetition
In literature, it is a literary device that involves repeating a word or phrase to create emphasis or rhythm. It has various uses such as to create a sense of urgency, to reinforce a theme or idea, or to highlight the importance of a particular concept or image. It also creates a sense of musicality in writing through a rhythmic pattern pleasing to the ear. It is a powerful tool to help writers to make their writings impactful and effective.
Types of Repetition
There are several types used in literature and other forms of communication. Here are some of the most common types with examples:
| Type of Repetition | Definition | Example from Literature |
| Anaphora | Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences. | “I have a dream that one day… I have a dream that one day… I have a dream that one day…” (Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech) |
| Epiphora | Repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses or sentences. | “Where now? Who now? When now?” (Samuel Beckett’s The Unnamable) |
| Polyptoton | Repetition of a word in a different form or tense. | “But love is blind, and lovers cannot see / The pretty follies that themselves commit” (William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice) |
| Anadiplosis | Repetition of the last word of one clause at the beginning of the next clause. | “Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” (Yoda in Star Wars) |
| Chiasmus | Repetition of words or phrases in reverse order. | “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” (John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address) |
| Alliteration | Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words. | “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.” |
| Assonance | Repetition of vowel sounds in words. | “Men sell the wedding bells.” |
| Consonance | Repetition of consonant sounds within words. | “All’s well that ends well.” |
These are just a few examples of the many types used in literature and communication to create emphasis, rhythm, and impact. However, it is interesting to note that all of these are literary devices in their own right and have their own specific features.
Common Examples
Repetition is a common occurrence in everyday conversation, often used for emphasis or clarification. Here are some examples of repetitions that occur in everyday conversation:
- “Can you pass the salt, please? The salt, the one next to you.”
- “I really, really like your outfit.”
- “I told him no, no, absolutely not.”
- “I can’t believe he did that, I mean, really, I can’t believe it.”
- “I had a terrible day today. Everything went wrong, I mean everything.”
- “It’s a beautiful, beautiful day outside.”
- “I need to study, study hard, if I want to pass this exam.”
- “I’m sorry, sorry I was late, I got stuck in traffic.”
These are just a few examples of how repetition are used or occurin everyday conversation to emphasize or clarify a point. It is a natural part of human communication and can be used to great effect in both formal and informal contexts.
Literary Examples of Repetition
| Source | Extract | Explanation |
| Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities | “I have a dream that one day…I have a dream that one day…I have a dream that one day…” | Anaphora: Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences. Used to emphasize King’s vision of a better future and rally his audience behind his cause. |
| Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” | “Quoth the Raven, ‘Nevermore.’” | Epiphora: It is a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses or sentences. Creates a sense of horror and emphasizes the finality of the Raven’s message. |
| Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities | “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness…” | Repetitive Structures: Repetition used for parallelism and balance. Highlights the contrasts between the two cities and their residents. |
| Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” | “Water, water, everywhere, And all the boards did shrink; Water, water, everywhere, Nor any drop to drink.” | It is used to create a sense of despair and hopelessness. Emphasizes the Mariner’s isolation and desperation. |
Suggested Readings
- Barthes, Roland. “Repetition.” Image-Music-Text, edited by Stephen Heath, Hill and Wang, 1977, pp. 142-148.
- Fled, Steven. Sound and Sentiment: Birds, Weeping, Poetics, and Song in Kaluli Expression. 2nd ed., University of Pennsylvania Press, 2016.
- Hobsbaum, Philip. Metre, Rhythm and Verse Form. Routledge, 2013.
- Rimmon-Kenan, Shlomith. Narrative Fiction: Contemporary Poetics. 2nd ed., Routledge, 2002.
- Shklovsky, Viktor. Theory of Prose. Translated by Benjamin Sher, Dalkey Archive Press, 1991.
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