Synchysis

Techniques > Use of language > Figures of speech > Synchysis

Method | Example | Discussion | See also

Description

Synchysis is an alternating word sequence of the form A-B-A-B.

Example

Young man, boy old.

Golden happy ring girl.

I run and shoot, fast and accurate.

Discussion

Synchysis is a rather odd form that typically appears in poetry, where words are rearranged such that alternate words should be read together. It asks the reader to think hard, concentrating on and reviewing the words until the pattern and so the meaning is discovered.

This can be so confusing that it may be necessary to emphasise the words that go together so the reader or listener can understand better what is intended.

Synchysis has an A-B-A-B structure, in contract to chiasmus, which has an A-B-B-A form.

Classification: Rearrangement, Hiidden