Epanodos is a stylistic means of repetition which is used in all genera. The epanodos means that the individual words of a sentence are repeated in the reverse word sequence. This means that the sentence elements of the sentence are mirrored, with the first word of the sentence moving to the end. The Epanodos is a special form of chiasmus. The sentence members are also mirrored, but it is not necessary for the words to be retained.
The term is derived from the Greek and can be translated approximately by return. Here, the translation shows us what is at stake: the individual words of a sentence find their way back [and are called again in reverse order]. Let us look at an example.
The end comes, the end comes!
In the example above, it is seen that the individual words are repeated. The order in the first part is the subject (the end) and the predicate (comes). This structure is mirrored in the next block. This means that the sequence consists of predicate (comes) and subject (the end). What is important is not only a cross-section of the sentences, but also a repetition of the same words. Strictly speaking, this is about the actual reversal of the word order. Yet another example:
Yes, I will go, I will go, and all my thoughts,
they, like gods, gather together, they want to invent and kill!
The above example is taken from Messiah by Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock, a German poet of sentimentality. Here the strict conception of the epanodos becomes clear: namely the actual reversal of the individual words, which was not the case in the last example. Another example:
Lost it? It was at the moment
Before my soul still full shine.
Yes, I lost it! You call, unhappy,
This example is an excerpt from The Natural Daughter: a tragedy by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Again, the wording is repeated in a reverse order. Furthermore, in this example it is evident that the repetition of the epanodos does not have to be immediate. There may thus be some sentences between the repetition, if the neighborhood of the repetition is nevertheless preserved.
Short overview: The most important thing about the Stilfigur at a glance
The stylistic means of the epanodos means that the words of a sentence are repeated in reverse order, even if insertions are allowed. The style figure is thus related to chiasmus, in which the sentence members are repeated in a reverse order. However, these are actually the same words.
Such word repetitions usually have a similar effect: they reinforce what is said or make language appear more penetrating, and also point out important things. Furthermore, the repetition is a typical stylistic means in children’s rhymes or magic formulas. In the lecture the figure can make a thing more memorable.