We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Linguistics

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is a Chiastic Structure?

By Laura Metz
Updated: May 23, 2024
Views: 26,576
Share

A chiastic structure, also known as a ring structure or chiastic pattern, is a literary device used to emphasize parallel ideas. Chiasms are considered a branch of form criticism. Examples of chiastic patterns can be seen in many books, including classics such as the Bible and "Paradise Lost."

Form criticism, which analyzes the patterns of literature, is used primarily to study the Bible. The theory was originally established by Herman Gunkel in the early 1900s. This type of analysis, however, is not limited to studying the Bible. Biblical examples of chiastic structure include Ecclesiastes 11:3-12:2 and Matthew 23:11-12.

Chiastic structure follows a simple pattern; for example, ABBA or ABA. In the ABA form, the middle line, B, is emphasized. Occasionally the pattern is expanded, such as the ABCBA pattern, which still emphasizes the middle line.

In a chiasm, or chiasmus, the root word is repeated, although its form frequently changes. For example, the word “run” could be repeated as “runner”, “ran”, or even “running.” This is evidenced in Matthew 23:11-12: “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” The verbs “exalt” and “humble” are each used twice, but in two forms.

Pairs of chiasms are linked together to form a chiastic structure. These chiasms serve as bookends to the sentence or passage. Chiastic patterns can have an infinite number of chiasms, so long as they follow the proper formula. A longer ring structure would follow the pattern ABCDCBA or ABCDDCBA.

The term ring structure serves as a simple illustration for the workings of a chiastic structure. In a chiasm, the pattern goes in a circle, or ring, from A to B and back to A. This makes chiasms easy to observe and use.

A chiasm is a fairly simple literary device and is used without being noticed. For example, the saying “Quitters never win, and winners never quit” follows the ring structure. The word “quit” is represented by the letter A, and “win” by the letter B, providing a perfect ABBA structure.

Chiastic patterns have been used for centuries. Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche employed this literary technique when he said “Is man one of God’s blunders, or God one of man’s blunders?” As a proper chiasm, the first half of the question makes one statement, and then the second flips that statement upside down.

The ring structure can be observed repeatedly throughout the Bible. For instance, William H. Shea believes the entire book of Daniel follows the chiastic pattern of ABCCBA. In this example, each piece of the chiasm may be several sentences long. Similarly, some scholars consider the entire book of Genesis a giant chiasm.

Share
Language & Humanities is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.languagehumanities.org/what-is-a-chiastic-structure.htm
Copy this link
Language & Humanities, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

Language & Humanities, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.