The Roles of Words, Phrases, and Ideas in Macro-Chiasms

Authors

Stephen Kent Ehat

Keywords

BYU Studies, chiasmus, words, analysis

Abstract

What roles do words, phrases, and ideas play in large-scale chiasms and in the analysis of their form? Just as words and phrases play different roles in language generally, so too they may play different roles in their contributions to chiastic forms. In the analysis of the criteria used in evaluating a text for the presence of phrase-based chiasms and conceptual, idea-based chiasms, the analyst may see different roles played by words and phrases, depending on whether the pattern is a word-based or clause-based chiasm or a conceptual, idea-based chiasm. Analysis of texts in light of the general criteria for detecting a chiasm— evaluating the likelihood of its existence and weighing the strength of its form—thus needs to allow latitude for words and phrases to play different roles and to manifest various levels of importance in the form.

Recommended Citation

Ehat, Stephen Kent (2020) "The Roles of Words, Phrases, and Ideas in Macro-Chiasms," BYU Studies Quarterly: Vol. 59: Iss. 5, Article 17.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/byusq/vol59/iss5/17