The UVic Writer's Guide
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Chiasmus
Chiasmus consists of two parallel phrases in which corresponding words
are placed in the opposite order, with their juxtaposition sometimes
reinforced by alliteration, assonance or consonance.
In his Essay on Criticism (1711), Pope looks for a poet, "Though learned, well-bred; and
though well-bred, sincere" Another example is the chant of the
witches in Shakespeare's Macbeth (1605-06): "Fair is foul, and foul is fair."
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Copyright, The Department of English, University of Victoria,
1995
This page updated September 23, 1995