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The following figures name the means by which sounds, letters, words,
or ideas can be artfully ordered and arranged for effect, and as such
fall under the the third of the four categories of change, transposition.
The idea of achieving the the most effective order for an entire speech
is emphasized in the second canon of rhetoric, arrangement,
and particularly when considering the partitio
(division or outline) of a speech. Some of the figures below pertain to
ordering an entire discourse, including certain figures of division and
digression. Similarly, some figures, though not pertaining necessarily
to parts of an oration, concern the artful ordering of concepts.
Most of the following figures are for arranging rhetorical effects through
manipulating word order. Some concern the rearrangement of letters
within words. Finally, some of the figures of order are considered to
be vices.
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Figures ordering parts of a speech, or ordering concepts
- eutrepismus
Numbering and ordering the parts under consideration.
- enumeratio
Dividing a subject into its adjuncts, a cause into its effects, or an
antecedent into its consequents.
- taxis
To divide a subject up into its various components or attributes.
- merismus
The dividing of a whole into its parts.
- parallelism
Similarity of structure in a pair or series of related words, phrases,
or clauses.
- parecbasis
Digressing from the logical order of a speech.
- chiasmus
Repetition of ideas in inverted order.
- hysteron proteron
Ordering out of chronology.
- catacosmesis (ordo)
Ordering words from greatest to least in dignity, or in correct order
of time.
- synthesis
An apt arrangement of a composition.
Figures altering the order of words
- hyperbaton
The inversion of normal word order. A general term.
- anastrophe
Departure from normal word order
- antimetabole
Repetition of words in reverse grammatical order.
- acrostic
Ordering words in successive lines so their first letters spell something
or follow alphabetical order.
- climax
The arrangement of words, phrases, or clauses in an order of increasing
importance
- catacosmesis
Ordering words from greatest to least in dignity, or in correct order
of time.
- hypallage
Shifting the application of words. Mixing the order of which words should
correspond with which others.
- hysterologia
Interrupting the order of a preposition and its object with an inserted
phrase.
- parenthesis
Insertion of a verbal unit that interrupts normal syntactical order.
- parallelism
Similarity of structure in a pair or series of related words, phrases,
or clauses.
Figures altering the order of letters within words
- tmesis
Interjecting a word or phrase between parts of a compound word or between
syllables of a word.
- metathesis
The transposition of letters within a word
Figures of Disorder (Vices)
- cacosyntheton
The incorrect or unpleasant ordering of words
- synchysis
The confused arrangement of words in a sentence. Hyperbaton or anastrophe
taken to an obscuring extreme, either accidentally or purposefully.
- hysterologia
Interrupting the order of a preposition and its object with an inserted
phrase
Related Topics of Invention
See Also
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