Diacope - Examples and Definition of Diacope

Definition of Diacope
Diacope has originated from a Greek paintings thiakhop, which means “to cut into two.” This literary tool is a repetition of a word or word, broken up via other intervening words. For example, a completely popular instance of diacope is in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, “to be, or now not to be!” In this line, you can note that the speaker has repeated the phrase “to be,” which is separated by another phrase “or no longer.” This is known as diacope.

Popular use of Diacope
Example #1: The Roar (by using Katy Perry)
“You held me down, but I got up”
You hear my voice, you hear that sound …
You held me down, but I were given up
Get ready ’cause I’ve had enough
I see it all, I see it now”

In this song, the phrase “You held me down,” lays emphasis on main idea, which is confidence and energy in the time of adversity. Then, the repetition of the phrase “you listen” and “I see it” gives rhythm to the song.

Types of Diacope
There are two varieties of diacope:

Vocative diacope
This form of diacope just repeats a word or word for emphasis such as:

“The horror! Oh, the horror!”

Repetition on this line is at the phrase “the horror,” which emphasizes how horrific something is! It also suggests how a person is mentally overwhelmed.

Elaborative diacope
This model of diacope repeats a phrase or phrase with an additional description or adjective that describes, clarifies, or in addition lays emphasis on a selected aspect of the aspect or subject such as:

“He is status with a cute woman. A tall, well-dressed and delightful woman.”

Here elaborative diacope adds similarly clarity to the arrival of a woman: tall, well-dressed and exquisite.

Examples of Diacope in Literature
Example #1: Antony and Cleopatra (by means of William Shakespeare)
“Cleopatra: O sun,
Burn the exquisite sphere thou movest in!
Darkling stand
The varying shore o’ the world. O Antony,
Antony, Antony! Help, Charmian, help, Iras, help;
Help, pals below; let’s draw him hither …

“Antony: I am dying, Egypt, dying; only
I right here importune loss of life awhile…”

This is a very good instance of vocative diacope, where Cleopatra is repeating the words “Antony,” “help,” and “dying,” which might be shown in bold, for emphasis.

Example #2: Deep Thoughts (with the aid of Jack Handey)
“I can image in my mind a world with out war, a world without hate. And I can picture us attacking that world, due to the fact they’d never expect it.”

This is another instance of vocative diacope in which the author has repeated the word “a world with out” to emphasize the world.

Example #3: The Life that I Have (by means of Leo Marks)
“And the lifestyles that I have
Is yours.
The love that I have
Of the existence that I have
Is yours and yours and yours.
Yet death will be however a pause …
In the long inexperienced grass
Will be yours and yours and yours.”

Here are two phrases “that I have” and “yours” the poet repeats to focus on love of a lover for the loved one. It additionally provides rhythm to the lines.

Example #4: Growing Up (by Russell Baker)
“He wore prim vested fits with neckties blocked primly towards the collar buttons of his primly starched white shirts. He had a primly pointed jaw, a primly directly nose, and a prim manner of speaking that became so correct, so gentlemanly, that he regarded a comic antique.”

In the excerpt given above, the writer has used elaborative diacope the use of a phrase “primly” to emphasize and illustrate man’s primness that he is prim in looks, movements and dressing, etc.

Example #5: A Child is Born (with the aid of Stephen Vincent Benet)
“Life isn't always lost through dying! Life is lost
Minute by minute, day through dragging day,
In all the thousand, small uncaring ways.”

In the primary sentence, the word “Life isn't lost” is accompanied by means of same word “Life is lost,” that's an example of elaborative diacope. The author has re-described and clarified it. Another repetition is at the words “minute” and “day,” which emphasizes passing of time.

Function of Diacope
Diacope is regularly utilized in writing, advertising, slogans, catch-phrases, speeches, TV suggests, and music, as well as in film scripts. Its cause is to describe, specify, and emphasize an idea or subject. Writers often use diacope to express their strong emotions, and to draw attention closer to repeated phrase or words. It also serves to make a phrase memorable and rhythmic.