ParallelismStylistics 551

Lecture 20

Interpretation of Parallelism• Functions of parallelism:1. Connected with rhetorical emphasis2. Aids memorability 3. Connects the elements of identity and contrast4. Leads towards climax

The interpretation of Parallelism Functions of Parallelism:1. Parallelism aids memorability:Parallelism sets a relationship of equivalence between the elements of language. The similarity in structure (identity) and repetition of words adds to create rhythm and balance in the structure that aids memorability.The rhythm and similarity makes the utterances easy to remember. That is why poets rely heavily on the use of parallelism. I will complain, yet praise, and all my sour sweet days I will bewail, approve I will lament and love

2. Parallelism for rhetorical emphasis: Linguistic parallelism is very often connected with rhetorical emphasis.Formal parallelism is combined with an implication of contrast, that the term antithesis is most readily applied. The connection is either the connection of similarity or contrast.

He raised a mortal to the skies; She drew an angel down

Rhetorical emphasis

Take me to you, imprison me, for I,Except You enthrall me, never shall be free, Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me. (Donne, Holy Sonnet)

This is the dead landThis is the cactus landHere the stone imagesAre raised, here they receiveThe supplication of a dead man’s handUnder the twinkle of a fading star. (Eliot, The Hollow Men)

3. Parallelism leads to climax:Another expectation raised by parallelism is that if there are two or more than two phrases to the pattern, it moves towards a climax. If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge? (Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice)Here the emotive force of revenge, coming after ‘bleed’, ‘laugh’, and ‘die’ is underlined by a slight variation in the pattern; the replacement of ‘do’ by ‘shall’

Climax

“The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men” (Robert Burns, To a Mouse)The relation of equivalence here is between mice and men, which correspond not only syntactically, but phonologically in that they are both monosyllables beginning with /m/. The Phonological foregrounding creates poetic effect. The reinforcing connection between mice and men is twofold. We firstly appreciate the referential contrast between man, the supreme head of creation, and the mouse, one of the tiniest and most inconsequential of creatures.

Climax

• Secondly, helped by the conjunction “and” which links the two words, we appreciate a similarity between man and mouse, who in the sentiment of this passage are levelled to the same status of vulnerability to fate. What the parallelistic bond between the two seems to suggest is that creatures superficially different are basically the same.