What is repetition in literature?
Repetition is the deliberate reuse of a sound, word, phrase, sentence structure or idea in a piece of writing. It shows up in poetry, speeches, novels, plays and song lyrics.
If you have seen the exam-style question “In literature, repetition is used essentially for …”, the usual answer is emphasis: repeating something draws attention to it and tells the reader it matters. Repetition is also used for rhythm, mood and unity, which are covered below.
In literature, repetition is used essentially for emphasis
When a writer says something once, readers may skim past it. When it comes back, they notice. Repetition marks an idea, image or feeling as important.
In a multiple-choice question, “emphasis” (sometimes worded as “to emphasize a point” or “for effect”) is normally the best match. Other options, such as “to confuse the reader” or “to save words,” are not what the device is for.
Main purposes of repetition
- Emphasis. Repeated words stress an idea and help readers see the central theme.
- Rhythm and sound. Repeated sounds and structures create a beat, which matters most in poetry (see rhyming poems) and speech.
- Emotion and mood. Repetition can imitate anxiety, obsession, grief or excitement, because a mind caught on one thought tends to loop.
- Memory. Refrains and repeated lines are easier to remember, which is why oral poetry and songs rely on them.
- Structure and unity. A repeated phrase can tie different parts of a text together or mark its beginning and end.
Types of repetition
There is no single agreed list, and sources group the devices in different ways. These are some commonly named ones:
| Device | What repeats | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Alliteration | Initial consonant sounds | Peter Piper picked a peck |
| Anaphora | Words at the start of successive clauses | “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” |
| Epistrophe | Words at the end of successive clauses | “… when I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child …” (a New Testament passage) |
| Anadiplosis | The last word of one clause starts the next | “Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate.” (Yoda, Star Wars) |
| Epizeuxis | A word repeated immediately | “Words, words, words.” (Hamlet) |
| Refrain | A line or phrase repeated at intervals | “Nevermore” in Poe’s The Raven |
| Parallelism | A grammatical pattern repeated | See isocolon |
Another way to sort them is by what is repeated: sounds (alliteration, assonance, rhyme), words and phrases (anaphora, refrain), and structure or ideas (parallelism, motif). That explains why you may see different answers to the question “What are the three types of repetition?” Check which list your teacher or textbook uses.
Repetition examples in literature
Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times …” The repeated opening of each clause (anaphora) builds a sense of a world full of opposites.
Edgar Allan Poe, “The Raven”
The word “Nevermore” returns at the end of stanzas as a refrain. Each repetition changes in meaning as the speaker’s despair deepens, which shows how the same word can feel different in a new context.
Robert Frost, “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”
The final line is repeated: “And miles to go before I sleep, / And miles to go before I sleep.” The first time it reads as a plain statement. The second time it sounds heavier, as if it means more than a journey.
Martin Luther King Jr., “I Have a Dream”
The phrase “I have a dream” is repeated at the start of many sentences. This anaphora gives the speech its rhythm and ties its images together.
Winston Churchill, 1940 speech
“We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds …” The repeated “we shall fight” creates determination and momentum.
Shakespeare, Hamlet
When Polonius asks what Hamlet is reading, Hamlet answers, “Words, words, words.” The repeated word shows weariness and mockery in just three syllables.
What is it called when a phrase repeats?
It depends on where and how it repeats. A phrase repeated at the start of clauses is anaphora, at the end is epistrophe, and a line repeated at regular intervals in a poem or song is a refrain. A repeated phrase that returns across a whole work, such as a recurring image, is more often called a motif.
When repetition goes wrong
Repetition is deliberate. Unplanned repetition, such as using the same word three times in a paragraph by accident, makes writing seem careless. Ask whether each repeat adds emphasis, rhythm or meaning. If it does not, vary the wording; cutting filler is one of the habits in our rules of writing.
How to use repetition in your writing
- Choose the idea you want readers to remember.
- Repeat a short, strong phrase rather than a long one.
- Put it in a position of strength: the start or end of sentences or paragraphs.
- Vary what comes after. The repeated part provides the pattern and the changing part provides the surprise.
- Read it aloud to hear whether it sounds rhythmic or just repetitive.
Question-and-answer patterns, as in hypophora, also often lean on repetition to hold a speech together.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main purpose of repetition?
To emphasize an idea, though it also builds rhythm, mood and memorability.
What literary device uses repetition?
Several do: anaphora, epistrophe, alliteration, refrain, anadiplosis and epizeuxis, among others. To practise spotting them, see how to identify language features.
What are the three types of repetition?
There is no universal answer. A common grouping is repetition of sounds, of words or phrases, and of structures or ideas, but your textbook may use a different three.
What is it called when you repeat a phrase in literature?
Anaphora if it opens successive clauses, epistrophe if it ends them, and a refrain if it recurs at intervals.