metabole

Metabole, from the Greek metabole meaning change or alteration, is a figure of speech in classical rhetoric. It denotes the reversal or permutation of the order of words or of parallel elements within a clause or across successive clauses to produce symmetry or balance. In some traditions, metabole is described as a broad category that encompasses various forms of reversal, while antimetabole and chiasmus are treated as more specific subtypes.

Mechanism and features: The figure often operates by swapping positions of words, phrases, or grammatical elements, creating a mirrored or crisscrossed structure. This reversal can occur within a single sentence or between paired clauses, and it typically serves to heighten emphasis, clarify contrast, or enhance the musical quality of the prose.

Examples and scope: A widely cited line that is frequently discussed in relation to metabole is John F. Kennedy’s "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." The sentence shows a reversal of the same elements, a pattern commonly labeled antimetabole; in broader discussions of metabole, it is often cited as illustrating reversal-based symmetry.

Usage and position in rhetoric: In classical rhetoric, metabole is one of several devices used to craft persuasive or memorable prose and poetry. Modern treatments often distinguish chiasmus and antimetabole as more precise terms for reversal structures, while metabole may be used as a broader umbrella term in some scholarly contexts.