What is the origin of the polyptote?
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From ancient Greek
poly
(many) and
ptote
(grammatical case), this figure of
speech
has two forms.
Or the repetition of several words with the same root, as in this text by Giraudoux: "
Yes, I hated him [...] I hated him [...] the only excuse for this nickname is that it justifies the hatred of hatred
”.
Or the use of the same verb at different tenses.
This construction is the most frequent and above all the best known.
This is why I classified it as a hidden figure, not because we do not recognize them, but because their fame often hides their origin or their authors.
Read alsoStylish figures: what is an oxymoron?
"
Madame is dying!"
Madame is dead!
Who remembers that these words were uttered by Bossuet in his
Funeral oration to Henriette-Anne of England
?
From La Fontaine to Brassens
"
Such is taken who believed to take.
Who remembers that this proverb was first the moral of the Rat and the Oyster, La Fontaine's fable with panting action:
“
[…] Master Rat full of great hope,
Approach the scale, lengthen your neck a little,
Feels caught up in the lakes; because the Oyster suddenly
Closes…,
”?
“
I have been seen what you are;
/ You will be what I am.
"
Read alsoDictation: a French passion
Who would attribute these lines to Corneille if Brassens had not finished his song by quoting him:
"
Maybe I'll be old,
Marquise answers, however
I'm twenty-six, my old Corneille,
And fuck you while waiting.
"
Extract from
Literary walk among figures of speech
.
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