Discuss the figure of speech Epanaphora: Definition, Meaning and Examples

Definition:

Epanaphora is a figure of speech that consists of the reiteration of the same word or words at the beginning of successive lines, clauses, or sentences.

Examples:

Here are some of the examples of Epanaphora

1.  Ring out old shapes of foul disease,
Ring out the narrowing lust of gold,
Ring out the thousand years of war,
Ring in the thousand years of peace. -Tennyson

This is an example of Epanaphora. Here the word ‘ring’ is reiterated at the beginning of all the lines of this stanza.

2. There is a pleasure in the pathless wood,
There is a rapture on the lovely shore
There is society where none intrudes.

Here the words ‘There is’ are repeated at the beginning of all the successive lines. This is an example of Epanaphora.

3.  Where palsy shakes a few, sad, last grey hairs.
Where youth grows pale, and spectre thin and dies.
Where but to think is to be full of sorrow.

Here the word ‘where’ is reiterated at the beginning of all the lines.

4. Teach him to be kind. Teach him to be respectful. Teach him to be considerate of others.

This is an example of Epanaphora.

Also read; Discuss the figure of speech Hyperbaton: Definition, Features and Examples