Grammar Series: Parallelism in Writing

 

We are launching a new series to encourage and inspire writers of all kinds.   One of the best techniques in writing is parallelism. It makes us remember certain points in the manuscript.  It's sort of like getting across a meaning or emphasis a sentence.  It adds balance to smooth out the sentence and flow.  

Parallelism is the use of components in a sentence that are grammatically the same; or similar in their construction, sound, meaning or meter. Parallelism examples are found in literary works as well as in ordinary conversations.
This method adds balance and rhythm to sentences giving ideas a smoother flow and thus can be persuasive because of the repetition it employs. For example, “Alice ran into the room, into the garden, and into our hearts.” We see the repetition of a phrase that not only gives the sentence a balance but rhythm and flow as well. This repetition can also occur in similar structured clauses e.g. “Whenever you need me, wherever you need me, I will be there for you.

It is used in a variety of literary works.

Poetry

John Donne’s

“Good we must love, and must hate ill,
For ill is ill, and good good still;
But there are things indifferent,
Which we may neither hate, nor love,
But one, and then another prove,
As we shall find our fancy bent.”

Charles Dickens

Tale of Two Cities

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.

It creates a harmony of ideas in a literary work.   One of the most invaluable tools that will strengthen your work. 

Assignment:  Write three parallel sentences.  

Math, the Son of Mathonwy, tale 4 — Part 1

Math, lord of Gwynedd, could not exist if not his feet rested on the lap of a virgin, unless he were needed in war. Thevirin now was Goewin. Math's nephew Gilvaethwy was morose because he had fallen in love with Goewin. Gilvaethwy's brother Gwydion noticed the change in him, and got him to tell him the cause of his sulkiness. Gwydion devised a plan. He told Math that Pryderi's people had a new animal, very tasty; and called swine or pig. They were given him by Arawn, king of Annwvn. It was agreed that the brothers and ten more would disguise themselves as bard, and entertain Pryderi; then ask for pigs as payment. This was carried out, but there was a prohibition against letting go the animals until they doubled their number. But the next day an exchange was made for what were actually illusiory beautiful gold harnessed horses and greyhounds conjured up by Gwydion.

They ride off with the pigs, and later the horses and greyhounds disappear. Pryderi and his men go off in pursuit. Knowing they were pursued, the men of the north caged the pigs; and went to tell Math, who set out after Pryderi. This gave Gilvaethwy the opportunity he wanted with the maiden, and the next morning he went to Math's camp. After a slaughter on both sides, and hostage taking, Pryderi requested Gwydion and he fight, since the latter was the cause of the violence. By magic and charm, Gwydion killed Pryderi.

When Math learned that Gilvaethwy violated Goewin, he recompensed her, and punished the brothers by transforming them into animals three years in a row. At the end of each year, he took their offspring. The first year they were deer, the second wild hogs, the third year wolves. In each case, Math struck the offspring with a wand, and the beast was changed into a boy, and was baptised. Math requesting a new virgin, Arianrod, his niece, was brought to him. When told to step over a wand, two babies appeared. Before the second one could be seen, Gwydion concealed it. Math named the first one Dylan. He died young, by a blow from an uncle.

One day Gwydion heard the baby he put in a chest crying. He had it nursed. After the child has grown a few years, Gwydion brings him to Arianrod, who learning the child is hers, is shamed; and refuses to name him. Gwydion, through trickery, has her name the boy. When a wren stood on the deck of a ship and the boy hit it with a shot, Arianrod calls the boy a lion, to describe the feat. For this he was named Llew Llaw Gyffes. The same after she refused to give him arms. Another time, illusory attack is created, and Arianrod has the boy armed to meet the enemy; but then the enemy vanished. She then proclaims he will never have a wife of this world. So a woman is created for him from natural sources; and she was named Blodeuwedd. Math gave Llew a territory to rule. 

Queens of Studio B

 

Being the chief meteorologist for weather station W-AMOK meant a certain prestige for Glenda Mason. Except for that one day each month when the segment aired on the set of the horror show. The diva, to make matters worse, had brought aboard a number of equally crackpot sidekicks. But the show had a profitable cult following the stockholders liked. 

Glenda's protest ended with the manager thumping his copy of her contract. Resigned, she ventured into the second-floor studio, where her producer had set the monitor for a map of California. She forced a smile for the cameraman. "Good morning from the set of the. . . .Wicca Horror Show. Today's weather report is courtesy of Ashbury Conglomerates. Here to introduce our sponsor is the show's host."

"Hostess." No one would argue that, given Wicca's vampish black stage dress. "Don't buy your conglomerates--whatever that is--from anyone else. Before we get into that, Brenda, didn't I see you flirting with Mr Assberry? Buttering up the old boy, are we?"

"It's Glenda." Clenched smile. "I don't flirt with our sponsors."

The second occurrence of the word opened a door for the cyborg character. "Flirtation: teasing with the possibility of illicit sex."

"I'd never cheat on my husband," Glenda huffed.

"Counter-intuitive," said the gold plated wannabe from Metropolis. "The escalating nature of this activity must lead to eventual mating." 

"Now, Queenie." Wicca waved it aside. "This you find a problem, when you have the world on the road to Ragnarok?" 

She had to be shilling for her own show. Glenda feigned interest. "Is that one of your horror titles?"

A deep voice interjected. "Tragically,  no." The bearded, helmed dwarf called Hecabano entered the fray. "I told the diva it was a bad idea bringing in the queen of the Bot Star Empire. Despite precautions, Queenie managed to shoot a barb into the station tabby, which proceeded, in her words, to 'target select individuals'. Now the world is hopelessly bottified." 

Wicca flung out bejeweled arms. "Oh well! What do I care? Just give me more time to stockpile goodies in the Outworld before it all blows up." 

The Outworld already. Glenda called her out. "Now I know you're talking about your show."

But the host wasn't listening. "Queenie, I'm going to find an iron rod and spank your--"

"My database," said the cyborg, "indicates this as flirtation."

Wicca smacked a frustrated hand across her eyes.

"She's good." The dwarf shook with silent laughter.

"Then I'm confused," Glenda protested. "This is one of your comedy routines. Don't you people ever come out of character?"

Wicca steered her aside. "There's something you should know, Linda. Watch out for anyone with needles coming out their fingertips. But there's a safer way to spot them."

"I'm almost interested."

With a knowing wink, Wicca put a finger to the side of her nose. "If it's woke, it's broke." She sashayed back toward the set. 

After mixing up with these kooks, Glenda had quite forgotten to do the weather.