Figaro is on tour, but he has not shirked his figurative duties. He’s written up the best figure for each of several useful purposes.
Today’s Figgy for Most Poetic Figure goes to…
anastrophe (an-ASS-tro-fee), the word-order switch. From the Greek, meaning “turning back.”
The anastrophe moves words around like a shell game, keeping the audience attentive and a bit off balance. Figaro likes to use the figure for poetic emphasis or eloquence, or to sound like a Jedi:
“Seldom in my life have I met a dumber man.” (Lawrence Wilkerson)
“It’s hard out here for a lobbyist.” (Emily Yoffe)
“Words he has in spades.”
“Named must your fear be before banish it you can.” (Yoda)
“Not if anything to say about it I have.” (Yoda again)
Be careful not to overuse the anastrophe. Like a good sauce it is; smother the meat you don’t want it to.
Runners-Up:
symploce (SIM-plo-see), the first-and-last repeater.
polysyndeton (polly-SIN-deh-ton), the conjunction connector.