Chiasmus is a compelling rhetorical device that involves a reversal of grammatical structures or ideas in successive clauses, creating an inverted parallelism. This technique is especially renowned for its impactful presence in poetic verse, where it adds rhythm, balance, and emphasizes a point by echoing a phrase in reverse.
Notable Examples of Chiasmus
Here are five prominent examples of chiasmus that demonstrate its varied applications in literature, oratory, and common sayings:
| Example Quote | Source/Context | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1. "Love without end, and without measure Grace." | John Milton, Paradise Lost | This line demonstrates chiasmus by reversing the order of the descriptive phrases: "without end" (adjective + noun implied) followed by "without measure" (adjective + noun implied), creating an elegant balance and emphasizing the boundless nature of the concepts. |
| 2. "And these tend inward to me, and I tend outward to them." | Walt Whitman, "Song of Myself" | Whitman uses chiasmus to emphasize the interconnectedness of the self and the external world. The pattern (A-B, B-A) is clear: "tend inward to me" followed by "I tend outward to them." |
| 3. "Pleasure's a sin, and sometimes sin's a pleasure." | Lord Byron, Don Juan | This example highlights the ironic or paradoxical nature of the concepts. The terms "pleasure" and "sin" are inverted, creating a witty and memorable statement that reflects on human nature. |
| 4. "Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country." | John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address | A famous political chiasmus that powerfully shifts the focus from dependence to active contribution, inspiring civic responsibility. The structure is clear: "country can do for you" (A-B-C) reversed to "you can do for your country" (C-B-A). |
| 5. "Never let a fool kiss you or a kiss fool you." | Traditional Proverb (often attributed to The Rules for Rulers by Niccolò Machiavelli, though its exact origin is debated) | This proverb uses chiasmus to deliver a cautionary and witty message. The reversal of "fool kiss" and "kiss fool" creates a memorable and impactful warning about being deceived. |
Chiasmus is a versatile rhetorical tool, often employed to add sophistication, emphasis, or a sense of completeness to a statement by reversing its structure. You can explore more about this rhetorical device and its usage on resources like MasterClass.
