Epanalepsis is a member of the rhetorical device family tree. That means it conveys meaning in an interesting or unique way. This particular device stands out in a line of text because it repeats a similar grouping of words at the beginning of a sentence and at the end. An example can be found in T.S. Eliot’s “The Lovesong of J. Alfred Prufrock”:

In a minute there is time
For decisions and revisions which a minute can reverse

In the examples of epanalepsis below, you’ll see it works hard to drive a point home. Not only is it repeating keywords in an effort to stand out, but it’s also featured in two of the most prominent parts of a sentence: the beginning and the end. When used, the author is trying to illustrate a point.

Finishings meaning

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