key term - Repetition

Definition

Repetition is a literary device that involves the deliberate use of the same word, phrase, or structure multiple times to create emphasis, enhance meaning, and foster memorization. In storytelling traditions, repetition serves to reinforce key themes, facilitate audience engagement, and establish a rhythm that can enhance the overall narrative experience.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. In many storytelling traditions, repetition helps audiences remember important details and enhances their understanding of the narrative.
2. Repetition can create a sense of anticipation or expectation in the listener, making them more engaged with the story.
3. Many traditional tales use repetitive structures, such as 'and then' or 'once upon a time,' which help establish a familiar rhythm for storytelling.
4. In Indigenous cultures, repetition may also hold spiritual significance, as certain phrases or elements are believed to invoke power and connection to ancestors.
5. Repetition is not just for entertainment; it can also serve educational purposes by helping listeners internalize moral lessons or cultural values embedded in the stories.

Review Questions

• How does repetition function within storytelling to enhance audience engagement?
  • Repetition functions within storytelling by creating a rhythmic pattern that captures the audience's attention and reinforces key themes. This technique allows listeners to become more immersed in the narrative, making it easier for them to follow along and remember important elements of the story. By repeating phrases or structures, storytellers can also evoke emotions and create anticipation, which keeps the audience engaged throughout the performance.
• Discuss the role of repetition in oral traditions and how it differs from written storytelling.
  • In oral traditions, repetition plays a crucial role as it aids in memory retention and ensures that stories are passed down accurately through generations. Unlike written storytelling, where readers can revisit texts at their own pace, oral traditions rely on rhythmic patterns and repeated phrases to make the narrative memorable and engaging for live audiences. This reliance on repetition not only enhances the storytelling experience but also serves as a way to preserve cultural identity and values over time.
• Evaluate the impact of repetition on the moral teachings found in traditional stories across cultures.
  • Repetition has a significant impact on the moral teachings found in traditional stories across cultures by emphasizing key lessons and ensuring they resonate with audiences. By reiterating specific messages or values through repeated phrases or scenarios, storytellers highlight their importance, making them easier for listeners to grasp and remember. This technique also fosters collective memory within communities, reinforcing shared beliefs and cultural values that can guide behavior and decision-making in everyday life.

Related terms

Refrain: A repeated line or group of lines in a poem or song, often used to emphasize a central theme or idea.

Anaphora: A rhetorical device that involves the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences to create a sense of urgency or rhythm.

Oral Tradition: The practice of passing down stories, histories, and cultural knowledge through spoken word rather than written text, often utilizing techniques like repetition for retention.