Polyptoton is a type of rhetoric that involves the repetition of a word or a root word in different forms within a sentence or a phrase. Educators who are interested in rhetoric or language arts should include teaching students about Polyptoton, as it is an effective way to enhance their communication skills. Students usually come across Polyptoton in literature, advertisements, speeches, and historical writings, making it essential to understand its meaning and usefulness.
When teaching students about Polyptoton, it is essential to start by explaining the meaning of the term. Polyptoton comes from the Greek words “polus,” which means “many,” and “totos,” which is translated to “part.” It is simply the use of different forms of a word or a root word used in the same sentence, phrase, clause, or paragraph. For instance, in the sentence, “We will not be defeated by defeat,” the repeated word is “defeat,” but the first is a noun, while the second is a verb.
After defining Polyptoton, it is essential to explore its different types, including “antanaclasis” and “epimone.” Antanaclasis is a type of Polyptoton that involves using a word in two different senses or meanings within the same sentence or phrase. For example, in the statement, “If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything,” the repeated words are “stand” and “fall,” but each has a different meaning. Epimone is where the same word is repeated several times to emphasize the point. Therefore, it is essential to give students numerous examples of Polyptoton to enable them to grasp the concept well.
Teaching students about Polyptoton also involves exploring its use in literature and other forms of communication. Many writers and speakers use Polyptoton to draw attention to particular words, create some humor or even irony. For instance, in the famous Julius Caesar’s speech by Mark Anthony, he said, “I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.” The repetition of the negative words is an excellent example of Polyptoton, which Anthony used to evoke the emotions of the listeners.
