Epistrophe | Examples & Definition

Epistrophe is the repetition of a word or words at the end of successive lines, phrases, clauses, or sentences. Its primary purpose is to draw attention to important ideas, create emphasis, and make key points more memorable. Because of this, we often encounter epistrophe in public speaking, song lyrics, and literature.

Epistrophe example
“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child.
When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.”

—The Bible, 1 Corinthians 13:11 (New International Version)

Epistrophe definition

Epistrophe  (also known as epiphora and antistrophe)  is a figure of speech in which each sentence or clause ends with the same word. Through repetition, speakers and writers achieve greater emphasis and help readers remember important themes or ideas.

The term “epistrophe” comes from the Greek words “epi” (meaning “upon”) and “strophe” (meaning “turning”), reflecting the concept of returning to a specific phrase for emphasis. Epistrophe in written and spoken language serves several purposes including:

  • Establishing a rhythmic pattern, making a phrase or sentence more memorable and persuasive
  • Adding emotional weight or a sense of urgency
  • Reiterating specific ideas or concepts

In the previous example, epistrophe is used to highlight the transition from childlike speaking, thinking, and understanding to maturity. The repetition of the word “child” lends a rhythmic and reflective quality to the passage.

Anaphora vs epistrophe

Anaphora and epistrophe both involve the creative use of repetition in sentences, clauses, or phrases, but they should not be confused. Anaphora is the opposite of epistrophe. In anaphora the repetition occurs at the beginning of a group of sentences, clauses, or lines of verse, while in epistrophe, it occurs at the end.

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

Epistrophe examples

Because epistrophe involves the repetition of the final word or words in a series of sentences or phrases, it can create a sense of building momentum that is often used in speeches.

Epistrophe examples in speeches
  • “With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.” —Martin Luther King Jr.
  • “The time for the healing of the wounds has come. The moment to bridge the chasms that divides us has come.” —Nelson Mandela
  • “And that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth.”  —Abraham Lincoln

In Edgar Allen Poe’s “Annabel Lee,” the phrase “Of the beautiful Annabel Lee” appears at the end of successive lines, creating a rhythmic effect and highlighting the writer’s repetitive thoughts over his lost love.

Epistrophe example in literature
For the moon never beams, without bringing me dreams
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And the stars never rise, but I feel the bright eyes
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side
Of my darling—my darling—my life and my bride,
In her sepulchre there by the sea—
In her tomb by the sounding sea.

Legal professionals may use epistrophe in arguments or closing statements to make a point more compelling.

Epistrophe example in a legal context
A lawyer might repeat a key phrase at the end of successive sentences for emphasis, as in:

“The evidence shows the defendant had the motive to commit this crime. The evidence shows the defendant had the means to commit this crime. The evidence shows the defendant had the opportunity to commit this crime.”

Here, epistrophe builds a cumulative effect that can be more powerful than simply stating that “the evidence shows the defendant had the motive, the means, and the opportunity to commit this crime.”

This is also an example of symploce, as it combines epistrophe with anaphora (The phrase “The evidence shows the defendant had” is repeated at the beginning of each sentence).

Frequently asked questions about epistrophe

What is an example of epistrophe?

In the following lines from the Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare employs epistrophe through the repeated phrase “the ring” at the end of four successive clauses:

“If you had known the virtue of the ring,
Or half her worthiness that gave the ring,
Or your own honor to contain the ring,
You would not then have parted with the ring.”

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 are figures of repetition?

Figures of repetition are a subset of rhetorical figures that involve the repetition of words, phrases, sounds, or structures to create emphasis, rhythm, or emotional effect. They are part of the broader category of rhetorical devices used in writing and speech. Examples include assonance, anadiplosis, and epistrophe.

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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.