Anaphora
The deliberate repetition of a word or phrase at the start of successive clauses.
Anaphora is the rhetorical figure of repeating the same word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences. It is one of the most powerful tools in oratory because the repetition builds rhythm, intensity, and memorability simultaneously.
Famous examples include Churchill's 'We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds...' and the cascade of 'I have a dream' clauses in King's 1963 address. Each repetition strengthens the next; by the fifth or sixth line, the audience hears the structure before the words.
Used sparingly, anaphora marks a climactic moment. Used too often, it flattens into sing-song. Skilled writers reserve it for the load-bearing passages.
“We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets…”
Keep reading the glossary
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