Anaphora

The repitition of a word or phrase at the beginning of a clause or verse for emphasis.

examples: "And do you now put on your best attire? And do you now cull out a holiday? And do you now strew flowers in his way That comes in triumph over Pompey's blood? Be gone!"
 * Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare**

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.
 * A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens**

We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills. We shall never surrender.
 * Winston Churchill during the Second World War**

At the beginning of the book Charles Dickens starts by saying "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair," (1). This quote introduces the motif of opposites throughout the story. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times" introduces the two cities, London and Paris, because during the time period that the book is set in, London was going through a good time and Paris was in the middle of a revolution. It also introduces the theme of Light/Darkness when it says, "It was the season of light, it was the season of darkness." This theme is prominent thoughout the whole book. All of the opposites in the whole book are equally matched whether it is good or bad.

In book one chapter four, Jarvis is telling the story of Mr. Manette to lucy and uses anaphora to explain what could have happened. He says, "What if Monsieur Manette had not died...if his wife had implored the king, the queen, the court..."(24). Lucy understands how bad things could have gotten for her father because of the anaphora. Javis emphasises "what if" because it did not actually happen and Dr. Manette is safe but he could have been in real danger and he wants Lucy to realize that means she could be in danger too.

Throughout //A Tale of Two Cities//, Charles Dickens uses anaphora to emphasis key points and make important parts stand out. Right before Sydney Carton is going to sacrifice his life for Darnay he says, "I see Barsad, and Cly, Defarge, The Vengeance, the Juryman, the Judge, long ranks of the new oppressors who have risen on the destruction of the old... I see a beautiful city and a brilliant people rising from this abyss, and, in their struggles to be truly free, in their triumphs and defeats, through long years to come, I see the evil of this time and of the previous time of which this is the natural birth, gradually making expiation for itself and wearing out. I seethe lives for which i lay down my life, peaceful, useful, prosperous and happy, in that England which I shall see no more. I see Her child upon her Bosom, who bears my name...I see that child who lay upon her bosom and who bore my name, a man winning his way up in that path of life which once was mine. I see him winning it so well, that my name is made illustrious there by the light of his...It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest I go to than I have ever known," (381). Carton is saying what he hopes will happen to Paris after the revolution as well as what will become of him. He hopes that he becomes known as a good person for sacrificing his life for Darnay. He is also saying that he wants the revolution to succed. This anaphora emphasises want Sydney Carton wants to happen in the future with the repeated phrase "I see...".

Another example of anaphora can be found in JFK's Space Race Speech. He repeats the word "first" to rise a sense of competition in the American people, and help bring them on board with being first in space.

Here is a link to a website that thoroughly explains and gives example of anaphora. @http://literarydevices.net/anaphora/