What is antanaclasis and how to use it in your writing?

From Shakespeare to Lin Manuel Miranda, antanaclasis remains a favorite literary tool amongst the witty wordsmiths of the world. It’s no wonder why. Audiences respond well to repetition and delight in a smart turn of phrase. You can punch up your own writing with thought-provoking and memorable antanaclasis phrases—read further to learn how.

Definition of antanaclasis

Antanaclasis is a sentence in which a word or phrase is repeated, carrying a different meaning each time. Artfully appropriate for a sentence that repeats and changes its meaning, the word antanaklasis means reflection in Greek. To be considered antanaclasis, the word or phrase must sound and be spelled the same. Because antanaclasis plays with word meaning, it’s also categorized as a special type of pun; so, if you like puns, this witty word tool is for you.

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Writers use them for a variety of reasons, such as:

to craft an ironic joke simply for entertainment
to make a slogan or song more memorable
to convince others of an argument through wit

We could define antanaclasis on and on, but the best way to understand a figure of speech is to see it in action. Browse these antanaclasis examples in literature, music, and advertising.

Examples of antanaclasis in literature

Perhaps the most obvious place to look for examples of antanaclasis is in literature. Playwrights, poets, and authors have used this literary tool for centuries. You might recognize a few of these examples.

Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet

The first opening lines of Romeo and Juliet carry a prime example of antanaclasis.

Two households, both alike in dignity,
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.

The first instance of the word civil means relating to ordinary citizens. The second instance of civil means courteous and polite. Or is it the other way around? Shakespeare creates a banger of an opener with this technique designed to make audiences stop and think about the moral of this tale, while also helping them remember the lines in an era when printing and literacy weren’t the norm.

Robert Frost’s Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

Robert Frost, master of nature poetry, uses antanaclasis in his piece Stopping by Wood on a Snowy Evening. The speaker of the poem rides a horse at night through the snow and stops in the woods to muse.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

At first, the word sleep is to be taken literally—to close your eyes and slumber for a few hours until you wake up again. The second time you read sleep, the word choice suggests death. Gives you the shivers, doesn’t it? That’s the power of antanaclasis for you.

“Artfully appropriate for a sentence that repeats and changes its meaning, the word antanaklasis means reflection in Greek.”

Examples of antanaclasis in music

Since repetition works well with rhythms and rhymes, you find antanaclasis in songwriting as well. Check out these examples and see if you recognize any.

Lin Manuel Miranda’s You’ll Be Back

Recognized as one of today’s favorite lyricists, Lin Manuel Miranda loves using wordplay. His musical Hamilton features a song sung by King George called You’ll Be Back which showcases a fantastic example of antanaclasis.

And no, don’t change the subject
‘Cause you’re my favorite subject
My sweet, submissive subject
My loyal, royal subject

The first use of the word subject means topic. The second, third, and fourth instances of subject mean someone with an allegiance to a sovereign. The repetition and use of play-on-words make the song both memorable and entertaining.

Stevie Wonder’s Sir Duke

Stevie Wonder’s ode to jazz artist, Duke Ellington utilizes antanaclasis in an expertly witty way.

But just because a record has a groove
Don’t make it in the groove
But you can tell right away at letter A
When the people start to move

The first use of groove refers to grooves etched into a record that a record player needly runs through to create sound. The next use of groove refers to being cool and making people want to dance. The use of antanaclasis serves to make a point about what makes good music, to entertain, and to stick in the listener’s memory.

Examples of antanaclasis in advertising

The Washington Post

The Washington Post used antanaclasis in its slogan to persuade people to buy their paper.

If you don’t get it, you don’t get it.

The first use of you don’t get it means you don’t purchase the paper. The second use of you don’t get it means you don’t know what’s going on. This clever use of persuasive antanaclasis plays on people’s desire to be considered smart and in the know. It also guilt-trips people a bit, doesn’t it?

White Hen Pantry

Do you remember the Midwestern convenience store White Hen Pantry? They used to use antanaclasis in their slogan back in the day.

When you run out, run out to White Hen.

The first use of run out refers to when you use up the last of an item and don’t have any more in supply. The second use of run out refers to going on an errand. The slogan is designed to prompt people to run a quick errand to the White Hen convenience store when they run out of something, whatever it may be.

Play around with antanaclasis in your own writing

If you’re stuck on diction, play around with the words you already have on the page. Come up with different meanings and interpretations of a word or phrase and see if you can craft a sentence together that utilizes two different meanings. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced writer, you may surprise yourself with what you come up with.