Anastrophe

Anastrophe

Definition
A literary device in which the normal order of words is reversed in order to achieve a particular effect of emphasis or meter.

Example from The Two Towers

“Like a deer he sprang away. Through the trees he sped. On and on he led them, tireless and swift, now that his mind was at last made up” (410).

Function

In this example anastrophe is used to bring attention to how fast they were when searching for the others. Tolkien switches the order of the verb and subject to emphasize the verbs in the sentence.

Another Example
Middle Eastern Anastrophe
by Ramsey Collins

Love you they don’t.

Kill you they will.

Hear us they won’t.

Old holes be filled.

Freedom you want.

Fetters they like.

On be the hunt.

Long be the hike.

Non-Original Mnemonic 

can be found here

Origianl Mnemonic

From this, I have learned a lot

Euphemism

Euphemism

Definition

A polite, indirect expression which replaces words and phrases considered harsh and impolite or which suggest something unpleasant.

Example- from Jane Eyre

“She kissed me, and I her, and we both soon slumbered.” (59)

Function

In the example from Jane Eyre, euphemism is used rarely and subtly. The line above is referring to when Helen was on her deathbed and Jane was lying with her. They were saying goodnight to each other, which also was their goodbye. In Jane’s narration above, the word “slumbered” referred to Helen passing away, it is a euphemism for her death. Charlotte Bronte used a euphemism here to indirectly talk about Helen’s death and add a more artistic element to the text.

Another example

“You know the truth, and the truth is this: some Negroes lie, some Negroes are immoral, some Negro men are not to be trusted around women—black or white. But this is a truth that applies to the human race and to no particular race of men. There is not a person in this courtroom who has never told a lie, who has never done an immoral thing, and there is no man living who has never looked upon a woman without desire.” Harper Lee wrote that Atticus Finch used the euphemism “Negro” to refer to a race of people and although that is historically accurate, a modern-day Atticus Finch would use the more currently accepted euphemism of “African-American” to refer to this race of people. 

Non-original mnemonic

Can be found here

Original mnemonic

Eu (you) phemism (feminism)

Are you a feminist?

Instead, you could ask: Are you in favor of women’s rights? It sounds less harsh on that topic in today’s society.

Chiasmus

Definition

a rhetorical or literary figure in which words, grammatical constructions, or concepts are repeated in reverse order, in the same or a modified form

Example- from Jane Eyre

“At last coffee is brought in, and the gentlemen are summoned” and “Where is Mr Rochester? He comes in last” (165).

Function

In the example from Jane Eyre chiasmus is used very subtly. In it the word “last” is used in both quotes, but it comes in different parts of the clauses. This adds an artistic effect to Charlotte Bronte’s work by balancing the two clauses against each other.

Another example

“I meant what I said, and I said what I meant.” In this example from Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hatches the Egg, the elephant, Horton, was explaining through a chiasmus that he meant what he said in a more artistic way.

Non-original mnemonic

Can be found here

Original mnemonic

C- chiasmus

H- helps

I- in 

A- applying

S- stylish (and)

M - multiple

U- uses (in)

S- stories