Antimetabole

Christy Brown

Leah Woodside

Per. 2

Definition

• A verbal pattern in which half of an expression is balanced against the first but with words in reverse grammatical order. (A-B-C, C-B-A)

Pronunciation

An-tee-meh-TA-boe-lee

http://www.forvo.com/word/antimetabole/

Literary Reference and Analysis

• “Fair is foul and foul is fair” The witches, “Macbeth”

• Shakespeare is foreshadowing the recurring theme of treachery and betrayal, and uses antimetabole to say that fair is so uncommon it has become foul, and foul has become so normal that it is as common as fair in the play.

Literary Reference and Analysis

• “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath” Mark 2. 27

• Jesus was trying to make the point that the needs of man have priority over the Sabbath. Antimetabole demonstrates this point by reversing the priorities, saying that the priorities of man are to be put over the Sabbath.

Literary Reference and Analysis

• "That he is mad, 'tis true: 'tis true 'tis pity; And pity 'tis 'tis true." (Polonius, “Hamlet”)

• Polonius is saying how Hamlet is crazy, and what a shame it is. Shakespeare uses antimetabole to reiterate the fact that Hamlet is mentally unstable, and emphasizes the fact that Polonius is saying he has sympathy for Hamlet, and is sorry that he has gone insane.

Works Cited

• http://www.forvo.com/word/antimetabole/

• Shakespeare, William. “Macbeth”. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1977.

• Shakespeare, William. “Hamlet”. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1992.

• Jesus. The Bible. Mark 2. 27.