Chiasmus

“I'm not a writer with a drinking problem—I'm a drinker with a writing problem.” –Dorothy Parker

I’m about to go reformed English teacher on you. Sorry, not sorry.

I’m working on my second novel (so exciting, right?!). It’s based on 1 Samuel 1-2. My take on it is an emotional, problems-in-paradise, witty, sexy romance with a love triangle twist. It’s very fun to write and I’m having a blast.

Bigger than my rom-com take on it, is this question of chiasmus.

In the Hebrew Bible, 1 Samuel 1 forms a chiastic structure:

Elkanah and his family go yearly from Ramah to Shiloh (1 Samuel 1:1—2:11)

Hannah’s sad prayer (1:1-8)

Sad conversation between Hannah and Eli (1:9-11)

The birth of Samuel (1:1 2-18)

Happy conversation between Hannah and Eli (1:19-23)

Hannah’s happy prayer (1:24-28)

Elkanah goes home to Ramah, but Samuel remains in Shiloh (2:1-11)

(Hat tip to a scholar who came up with this clever synopsis. The chiasmus and this indentation scheme are not new, though. Ha!) 

In writing, chiasmus is often mistaken for antimetabole (a word I adore!). But they are different. While I’d characterize antimetabole as a play on words, chiasmus is about playing with concepts. As such that makes chiasmus harder to write, I imagine. And harder to quote. For fun, here’s a list. I’m taking full advantage of a plethora of antimetabole in English to try to disguise the dearth of useful chiasmatic quotes.

Quotable Chiasmus

“By day the frolic, and the dance by night.” —Samuel Johnson

"What is stolen without remorse, with guilt must be repaid." —unknown

"It's hard to make time, but to waste it is easy." —unknown

(A word about “unknown”—if you know, please comment below! I abhor the not knowing.)

Entertaining Antimetabole

“It's not the men in my life that count—it's the life in my men.” —Mae West

"He who questions training only trains himself at asking questions." —The Sphinx in Mystery Men

Shakespeare, of course, used both.

—Richard in Richard II
You must read this paper about chiasmus in 68 plays. If you think I’m a nerd, you’ll love this guy

"Fair is foul, and foul is fair." —The Witches in Macbeth

“The sheep for fodder follow the shepherd; the/ shepherd for food follows not the sheep” —Proteus in Two Gentlemen of Verona

“But shall I live in hope? / All men, I hope, live so.” —Richard and Lady Anne in Richard III

(For more on this, you must read this paper about chiasmus in 68 plays. If you think I’m a nerd, you’ll love this guy.)

Antimetabole as Inspiration

“You have seen how a man was made a slave; you shall see how a slave was made a man.” —Frederick Douglass

“Human rights are women's rights and women's rights are human rights.” —Hillary Clinton

“Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.” —John Wooden

A Question About Chiasmus

One article I read says, “Chiasmus is not limited to an exchange of words; it can also involve the exchange of letters or syllables…”

"I’d rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy." —Tom Waits

Since high school, I’ve been obsessed with this quote. Is this true? Is this chiasmus? Please advise.