Anaphora | Definition & Examples

Anaphora is the repetition of a word or group of words at the beginning of successive clauses, sentences, or lines. Through repetition, anaphora can connect and reinforce a series of thoughts, making it easier to remember them. Because of this, we often encounter anaphora in political speeches, song lyrics, and poems.

Anaphora example
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal […]

—Ecclesiastes 3:1–2 (New International Version)

Anaphora definition

Anaphora is a figure of speech in which each sentence or clause begins with the same word. Its primary effect in speaking and writing is to create a rhythmic pattern, highlight the central theme, and stir emotions in the audience.

The term “anaphora” comes from the Greek preposition “ana” (meaning “back,” “up,” or “again”) and the root word “pherein” (“to bring”). Together, anaphora literally means “carrying back,” which reflects its function of bringing a concept back or to the forefront through repetition.

Anaphora, like other forms of repetition such as assonance, alliteration, and anadiplosis, serves as a powerful mnemonic aid. For this reason, we encounter it in ancient texts across cultures, where it was used to ensure that their core messages would be remembered.

In the example from the Bible above, the repeated phrase “a time to” helps create a meditative tone and convey the idea that every experience, positive or negative, has its rightful place in the grand scheme of life.

Anaphora examples

Anaphora is particularly effective in public speaking where the audience lacks the option to go back and reread any words they have missed.

A famous example of anaphora is from Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. The repetitive structure emphasizes the central theme of the speech, builds emotional intensity, and makes the content easier for the audience to remember.

Anaphora example in Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech[…]
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. […]

In the opening lines to A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens employs anaphora, along with juxtaposition and asyndeton, to unify contrasting images and effectively portray the social tensions of the era.

Anaphora example in Charles Dickens’s 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, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way […]

In the passage below from John of Gaunt’s speech in Shakespeare’s Richard II (act 2, scene 1), the repetition of “this” creates a rhythmic flow and places the focus on England’s qualities one by one, emphasizing its distinctiveness.

Anaphora example in Shakespeare’s Richard II
[…]This royal throne of kings, this sceptered isle,
This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars,
This other Eden, demi-paradise,
This fortress built by Nature for herself
Against infection and the hand of war,
This happy breed of men, this little world,
This precious stone set in the silver sea,
Which serves it in the office of a wall
Or as a moat defensive to a house […]

Anaphora vs epistrophe

Anaphora and epistrophe are both rhetorical devices that involve the intentional repetition of words or phrases to create emphasis in sentences, clauses, or lines of verse. However, they occur in different parts of the sentence:

  • Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses, sentences, or lines of verse. This repetition serves to emphasize the idea or emotion expressed, drawing the audience’s attention to the start of each new thought.
  • In contrast, epistrophe is the repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses, sentences, or lines. This technique emphasizes the concluding part of each clause, creating a powerful and memorable impact on the reader or listener.

In short, while anaphora and epistrophe are opposites in terms of placement, they serve similar purposes.

Anaphora vs epistrophe examples
Anaphora “… 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 fight in the hills.” —Winston Churchill
Epistrophe “For no government is better than the men who compose it, and I want the best, and we need the best, and we deserve the best.” —John F. Kennedy

Frequently asked questions about anaphora

How is epistrophe different from anaphora?

Epistrophe is the opposite of anaphora. While epistrophe is the repetition of words at the end of a series of phrases or sentences, anaphora is the repetition of words at the beginning. Both are figures of repetition but they differ primarily in their placement within sentences or phrases.

What is an example of anaphora?

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s oft-quoted “I Have a Dream” speech employs anaphora extensively. The repetition of the phrase “go back” in the following lines are an example of that:

Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed.”

Some rhetorical devices related to anaphora are epistrophe, symploce, and anadiplosis. These devices all involve repetition in various forms, which can add emphasis, rhythm, and emotional impact in speech or writing.

What is the effect of anaphora?

Anaphora creates emphasis by repeating the same word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences. This makes repeated ideas more memorable, adds rhythm, and draws the audience’s attention to the key message. It can stir strong emotions, build momentum, and unify different parts of a text under a central theme, making it more impactful.

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Kassiani Nikolopoulou, MSc

Kassiani has an academic background in Communication, Bioeconomy and Circular Economy. As a former journalist she enjoys turning complex information into easily accessible articles to help others.