Parallelism

What is Parallelism?

• Using the same pattern when listing items in a sentence.

Examples

• Some examples:– Jem enjoyed playing football and exploring

the neighborhood.• All consist of ---ing and a noun

– Scout liked to swim, to read and to play.• All consist of infinitives (to verbs)

– The judge wrote his report quickly, accurately, and thoroughly.

• All consist of adverbs.

Parallel Clauses

• A lawyer should give an opening speech, question witnesses, and give a closing argument.

Never Mix Patterns

• Wrong:– I like to swim and playing basketball.– Atticus explains things to Scout kindly and in

a clear way.– We were hungry and in need of sleep.

Wrong Clauses

• The salesman expected that he would present his product at the meeting, that there would be time for him to show his slide presentation, and that questions would be asked by prospective buyers.

Not Parallel

• The coach told the players that they should get a lot of sleep, that they should not eat too much, and to do some warm-up exercises before the game.

Parallel

• The coach told the players that they should get a lot of sleep, that they should not eat too much, and that they should do some warm-up exercises before the game.

• — or —The coach told the players that they should get a lot of sleep, not eat too much, and do some warm-up exercises before the game.

Fix These

• The children think Boo is crazy and acts dangerously.

• Scout likes to play with boys and reading with her father.

• Calpernia teaches Scout to behave and is a good cook.

Rhetorical Parallel• That where there is hatred, I may bring love.

• That where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness.

• That where there is discord, I may bring harmony.

• That where there is error, I may bring truth.

• That where there is doubt, I may bring faith.

• That where there is despair, I may bring hope.

• That where there are shadows, I may bring light.

• That where there is sadness, I may bring joy.

• Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort, than to be comforted.

• To understand, than to be understood.

• To love, than to be loved.

• For it is by self-forgetting that one finds.

• It is by forgiving that one is forgiven.

• It is by dying that one awakens to Eternal Life.

Rhetorical Parallel• That where there is hatred, I may bring love.• That where there is wrong, I may bring the

spirit of forgiveness.• That where there is discord, I may bring

harmony.• That where there is error, I may bring truth.• That where there is doubt, I may bring faith.• That where there is despair, I may bring hope.• That where there are shadows, I may bring

light.