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Epiphora

Device
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses or lines

Detailed Definition
Epiphora (or epistrophe) is the repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive lines or clauses, creating rhythmic closure and thematic emphasis; unlike anaphora’s forward propulsion, epiphora anchors each unit with a resonant echo, as in Lincoln’s “government of the people, by the people, for the people.”
Example
Example in poetry:
Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address uses epiphora: “government of the people, by the people, for the people”; Shakespeare’s “Richard II”: “This earth, this realm, this England”; Maya Angelou: “I rise, I rise, I rise”; Epiphora emphasizes through end repetition.
Additional Notes
Repetition of word/phrase at clause/line ends. Also called epistrophe. Creates rhythm, emphasis. Example: "government of the people, by the people, for the people." Opposite: anaphora.
Also Known As
End repetition Closing echo Terminal reiteration Final word pattern epiphoric repetition Epistrophe
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