I. What is Polyptoton?
This article is enjoyable to read when read by those who enjoy literary terms.
Polyptoton is the repetition of a root word in a variety of ways, such as the words “enjoy” and “enjoyable,” and the present and past forms of the word “read” in the opening sentence. The word polyptoton is derived from the Greek phrase polyptōton meaning “many cases.”
Polyptoton is a unique form of wordplay that provides the sentence with repetition in sound and rhythm.
II. Examples of Polyptoton
You’re so full of trickery! Playing tricks on me!
In this example, the root “trick” is repeated with “trickery” and “tricks.”
I’m so hurried, I’ve got to hurry more, but I’ve been hurrying all day!
Here, the repetition of the root “hurry” emphasizes the constantly hurried feeling of the speaker.
To be ignorant of one’s ignorance is the malady of the ignorant.
In this quote from A. Bronson Alcott, the malady, or sickness, of ignorant people is that they do not realize they are ignorant due to, of course, their own ignorance! In this example, polyptoton is used to emphasize how ignorance prolongs ignorance by definition.
III. The Importance of Using Polyptoton
Polyptoton is a unique form of repetition used for emphasis of the repeated root. As the root word morphs throughout the sentence, polyptotonic phrases can be used to simply emphasize, add a musicality, or add an interesting form of poeticism to a phrase. It can emphasize the complexity, simplicity, irony, or paradox of a definition of a root in various forms and situations.
IV. Examples of Polyptoton in Literature
Because polyptoton is a form of a word play, it is well-liked by many writers, poets and prose writers alike.
Love is an irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired.
Robert Frost was quoted by Sydney Cox as having said this lovely line.
It was beautiful there
but I’d seen beauty and its opposite so often
that when warmth broke over my skin I remembered winter,
the way fresh grief undoes you the moment you’re fully awake.
In this excerpt from the poem “Perpendicular,” Kathy Fagan examines beauty and its ability to summon memory of the un-beautiful as well.
Dr. Seuss is a lover of the polyptotonic phrase.
Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.
Oh the places you’ll go! There is fun to be done! There are points to be scored. There are games to be won. And the magical things you can do with that ball will make you the winning-est winner of all.
Out there things can happen, and frequently do,
To people as brainy and footsy as you.
And when things start to happen, don’t worry, don’t stew.
Just go right along, you’ll start happening too!
Polyptoton has a wide variety of uses in literature from rhythm, beauty, and musicality, to fun, silliness, and play.
V. Polyptoton in Pop Culture
Polyptoton can also be found in pop culture, as unique repetition is useful in spreading a message or in creating a rhythm.
“I Dreamed a Dream”
In this song from Les Les Misérables, the very title is an example of polyptoton. The repetition of “I dreamed a dream” emphasizes the singer’s longing and imaginings versus a difficult reality.
“Make Your Own Kind of Music” by Mama Cass
Nobody can tell ya
There’s only one song worth singin’
They may try and sell ya
‘Cause it hangs them up
To see someone like you
But you’ve gotta make your own kind of music
Sing your own special song
Make your own kind of music
Even if nobody else sings along
In this inspiring song, Mama Cass encourages listeners to “sing their own special song” and to survive through “the loneliest kind of lonely.” She takes advantage of the rhythm and musicality provided by the use of polyptotonic phrases.
VII. Related Terms
Another figure of repetition, homoioteleuton is the repetition of words with similar endings. Here are a few examples of homoioteleuton:
- I was running, singing, and dancing all at once.
- The plane made aerial radial shapes as if around a sundial.
- She much prefers admiration and adoration over rejection.
Antanaclasis is similar to polyptoton in that it is the repetition of a word that changes in certain ways. Whereas polyptoton changes cases, antanaclasis changes meaning. Here is an example of antanaclasis versus polyptoton:
She was very upset her team had been upset in the playoffs.
In this example, “upset” is repeated, though the first instance is the adjective meaning “a bad mood” whereas the second instance is a verb meaning “having a surprising loss.”
It upsets me that something so upsetting happened.
In this polyptotonic phrase, “upset” changes forms but not meaning.
VIII. In Closing
Polyptoton shows how unique repetition can be used to emphasize and expand upon one idea in its various forms. Whether providing rhythm and musicality or simply used for fun and games, polyptoton is a useful literary tool in the hands of poets, writers, and artists alike.