Say It Again, Will: Anaphora

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GEORGE:
Master Shakespeare, are you with us?

SHAKESPEARE (warm, amused):
Indeed, sir. I am ever at your elbow—though I confess, your age is wondrous. In mine own day, men grew old chiefly by avoiding theaters.

GEORGE:
Ha! We’ll take the win where we can.
All right—anaphora. I’m going to pronounce it slowly so I don’t embarrass myself: a-NA-pho-ra.

SHAKESPEARE:
A fair stumbling, sweetly done. And what think you it means?

GEORGE:
Here’s my best “general adult” definition: anaphora is when you repeat the same word or phrase at the beginning of a line or sentence—and that repetition builds rhythm, emphasis, and emotional force.

SHAKESPEARE:
Aye. Like a drumbeat that gathers soldiers—or gathers tears.

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