Epistrophe
A rhetorical device in which the same word or words are repeated at the end of successive clauses or lines. Epistrophe creates emphasis and closure, often paired with anaphora for symmetrical effect.
Real World
Abraham Lincoln's 'government of the people, by the people, for the people' closes each phrase with 'the people' — the epistrophe hammers the democratic idea home and creates a sense of absolute, settled conviction through its repeated ending.
Exam Focus
Distinguish epistrophe from anaphora precisely — confusing the two is a common error that undermines AO2 marks; always specify whether repetition occurs at the start or end.
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