The Homoioteleuton, also Homöoteleuton, Homoeoteleuton as well as Omoioteliton, is a rhetorical stylistic means which we meet mainly in lyricism (cf. literary genres). The Homoioteleuton means that the final syllables of successive words, sentences, or even shorter sentences are rhyming. Thus, the stylistic figure is related to the epiphyse and the internal rhyme, and is the counterpart of the alliteration (see example alliterations).
The term can be derived from the Greek (ὁμοιοτέλευτον) and roughly translated as equivalent. Consequently, the meaning of the word already refers to the fundamental theme of the stylistic figure: namely the similar sounding endings [of words or sentences that follow one another]. An example.
Well, my dear. Come along, captured, attached.
The above example is, on the one hand, alliterative, since it is based on the sequence of the same initial letters, and on the other hand a tautogram, since in the sentence all the words begin with the same letter, and a homoioteleuton , -hang).
In addition, it is apparent that internal rhizomes and homo-oteleutons are similar and basically describe the same. For as an inner rhyme is a sequence of rhymes, which describes the rhyme within a verse line, which is why the words often follow each other (Ex: And sighed long and bang …)
The term was first used by Aristotle in his work on rhetoric to describe a sequence. Aristotle gave an example of his observations to show this distinctiveness. The main difference is that these are not successive words, but are short lines that rhyme. In this case, the similarity to the epipher is obviously very obvious.
ῴήθησαν αὐτὸν παιδίον τετοκέναι,
ἀλλ ‘αὐτοῦ αἴτιον γεγονέναι
ôiêthêsan auton paidion tetokenai,
all ‘autu aion gonenai
Further examples
The best way to illustrate this is by using a few examples. For this reason, we would like to provide you with a selection of example sentences, which illustrate the principle. However, these remain uncommented.
Easy come easy go.
I am small, but fine,
but also round and healthy.
It is as if there were a thousand bars
and behind thousands of bars no world.
franz: liberté, egalité, fraternité.
nolens volens.
Effect and function
It is always difficult to ascribe a function or effect to a stylistic figure. Then, in interpreting or analyzing, we run the risk of reducing the stylistic means on it and no longer check whether it actually behaves like this. Nevertheless, we give some hints.
Overview: Function and function of the Homoioteleuton
The Homoioteleuton is a rhetorical stylistic that is based on the fact that the final syllables of rhymes, sentences, or short sentences are rhyming or sounding alike. In contrast to the rhyme, it can also be unconcised words.
Thus the stylistic device is the counterpart of the alliteration and is also reminiscent of the internal rhymes and the epiphyses. The linguistic opposite is also referred to as Homoiarkton. This is another word for alliteration.
The Homoioteleuton thus strongly strengthens the sound effect, the rhythm and, of course, our reading as we present such a verse. Consequently, an accumulation of such figures can, of course, favor a kind of singingang with the speaker.
