207 « Back to Glossary Index
A rhetorical device in which two or more clauses are related to each other through a reversal of structures — an ABBA pattern of words or concepts. Example: John F. Kennedy’s “Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.” In literary prose and poetry, chiasmus creates a sense of balance, symmetry, and memorability.
« Back to Glossary Directory
