Published: July 5, 2024 | Last Updated: December 6, 2024
Parallelism Definition & Meaning
Parallelism is using grammatically similar structures in sentences or phrases. The literary device involves balancing the construction of phrases or sentences to create a harmonious flow and emphasize relationships between ideas. It is commonly used in literature, speeches, and other forms of writing to enhance clarity, coherence, and rhythm.
Parallelism is common in everyday language and often involves repeating grammatical structures or similar phrases to emphasize a point, create rhythm, or develop a theme. It can be used in various forms, such as:
- Words and phrases: “Easy come, easy go.”
- Clauses: “What you see is what you get.”
- Sentences: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”
Parallelism is sometimes confused with hendiatris and tricolon, but they’re different. Read more on the difference between hendiatris, tricolon, and parallelism.
Parallelism in Literature and Speeches
Authors and speechwriters also use parallelism to make the message more impactful. Here are two examples:
Charles Dickens’ “A Tale of Two Cities”: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…”
Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech: “I have a dream that one day… I have a dream that my four little children…”
Both of these are also examples of the literary device known as anaphora.
Different types of Parallelism
There are many ways to create parallelism in language and writing. I’ve described each type in Table 1 and included an example. Below the table, I’ve analyzed various movie quotes that greatly use parallelism.
| Type of Parallelism | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Syntactic Parallelism | Using the same grammatical structure in successive phrases, clauses, or sentences. | ‘She likes cooking, jogging, and reading.’ |
| Semantic Parallelism | Using phrases or clauses that convey similar meanings or concepts. | ‘He is smart, he is intelligent, and he is clever.’ |
| Phonological Parallelism | Repeating sounds, including alliteration, assonance, and consonance. | ‘Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.’ |
| Lexical Parallelism | Repeating words or word patterns for emphasis. | ‘I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up. I have a dream that one day the hills will be made low.’ |
| Morphological Parallelism | Using words with similar forms or morphemes. | ‘Unhappy and unhealthy, she still remained strong and unbroken.’ |
| Anaphora | The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences. | ‘Every day, every night, in every way, I am getting better and better.’ |
| Epistrophe | Repeating a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses or sentences. | ‘See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.’ |
| Chiasmus | Reversing the order of words in parallel sentences (it doesn’t have to be the same wording as long as the meaning is the same). | ‘Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.’ |
| Antithesis | Using parallel structures to highlight contrasting ideas. | ‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.’ |
Analysis of Parallelism in Movie Scripts
Now, let’s look at how screenwriters sometimes use parallelism to make a certain line more impactful. Below, I’ve cherry-picked and analyzed some famous movie quotes.
Notice that many of these quotes may fall into several categories.
Syntactic Parallelism
“You got a free cab, you got a free room, and someone who’ll listen to your boring stories.”
– Neal in Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987)
The repeated structure “You got a free [noun]” in the first two clauses (“You got a free cab, you got a free room”) is followed by a different but parallel structure in the third clause (“and someone who’ll listen to your boring stories”), maintaining a consistent grammatical format.
However, the quote is also an example of ellipsis; in the third clause, “You got” is implied but not repeated (“and someone who’ll listen to your boring stories”). This omission avoids redundancy while maintaining the parallel structure.
Semantic Parallelism
“With great power comes great responsibility.”
– Uncle Ben in Spider-Man (2002)
This quote presents two interrelated concepts: power and responsibility. The phrase “great power” is paired with “great responsibility,” suggesting that one concept implies the other. The semantic link between these ideas emphasizes that power and responsibility are intrinsically connected.
Phonological Parallelism
“Hasta la vista, baby.”
– T-800 in Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
The quote primarily demonstrates phonological parallelism through assonance (the repeated “a” sound) and subtle alliteration (the punctuating “baby” where the repetition of the “b” sound in “baby” adds a rhythmic quality to the phrase.)
Lexical Parallelism
“[…] I’m funny how, I mean funny like I’m a clown, I amuse you? I make you laugh, I’m here to fuckin’ amuse you? What do you mean funny, funny how? How am I funny?”
– Tommy DeVito in Goodfellas, 1990
The repetition of “funny” emphasizes the character’s confusion and confrontational tone.
Morphological Parallelism
“To infinity and beyond!”
– Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story (1995)
The words “infinity” and “beyond” share a similar morphological form. Both are abstract concepts related to vastness and extent, emphasizing the declaration’s boundless nature.
Anaphora
“You is kind. You is smart. You is important.”
– Aibileen in The Help (2011)
The phrase “You is” is repeated at the beginning of each clause, emphasizing the affirmations given to the listener. This repetition creates a rhythmic and emphatic structure.
It is also synthetic parallelism because Each clause follows the same grammatical structure: “You is [adjective/noun].” This consistency in structure reinforces the described positive qualities and makes the message more powerful and memorable.
Epistrophe
“Badges? We ain’t got no badges. We don’t need no badges! I don’t have to show you any stinking badges!”
– Gold Hat in The Treasure of the Sierra Wadre (1948)
This is a classic example of epistrophe parallelism because it repeats a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses or sentences.
Chiasmus
“Laura, I don’t hate you because you’re fat. You’re fat because I hate you.”
– Jessica Lopez in Mean Girls (2004)
This quote from Mean Girls is a vivid example of chiasmus because it contains two inverted concepts: “I don’t hate you because you’re fat,” which contrasts with “You’re fat because I hate you.”
The chiastic structure enhances the emotional weight of the statement and emphasizes Ms Lopez’s resentment and manipulative logic.
Antithesis
“They may take our lives, but they’ll never take our freedom!”
(Braveheart, 1995)
The quote contrasts “our lives” with “our freedom,” highlighting the difference between physical life and the abstract concept of freedom.
However, it is also syntactic parallelism because the clauses “They may take our lives” and “they‘ll never take our freedom” use the same grammatical structure, balancing and emphasizing the contrasting outcomes.
Summing Up
Parallelism uses similar grammatical structures, patterns, or forms within a sentence or paragraph.
By using parallelism, you can create balance, rhythm, and clarity in your screenplay. Repeating certain structures can emphasize key points, highlight relationships between ideas, and enhance the overall message you want the viewer to understand.
So, the next time you sit down to work on your next masterpiece, try playing around with the various types of parallelism presented in this article.
Up Next: What is an Unreliable Narrator?
