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Figures of Speech IloveIndia
Chiasmus, colloquially, is called the 'criss-cross' figure of speech! Confused? Learn more through the examples of chiasmus, as given in this article

Chiasmus Examples

Survey proves that not even one in ten people would know what a chiasmus is; in fact, only two in a thousand can identify it correctly. So, if you are unaware of such a figure of speech then worry not, as you have come to the right place! A chiasmus is when the order of words is reversed in parallel expressions that are found in two or more clauses. It is derived from the Greek word 'chiazo', which denotes the letter X. The use of chiasmus is popular in Greek, Latin and English languages, especially in Shakespeare's works, the Hebrew texts of the Bible, Analects of Confucius and the Book of Mormon. It was also seen in Sanskrit, Mesopotamian, Chinese and Egyptian texts. "Never Let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You" - Mardy Grothe (1999); one of the best known examples of a chiasmus and coined as the title of the book. In classic rhetoric, this figure of speech can be differentiated from an antimetabole, which is repetition of words in successive clauses in grammatical order. In a chiasmus, there is no recurrence of the same two terms. When chiasmus is applied to entire passages or writings, it is called a chiastic structure.

Examples Of Chiasmus

Types:
As Quotations
In Scripture
Given above are a few chiasmus examples. Hope they helped you in understanding the meaning better! Although it is poetic and ancient language, chiasmus can also be used as a figure of speech in current day, as it adds fun and liveliness to the text.