The Power of Repetition: Martin Luther King Jr. and Rhetorical Rhythm

Creative Writing Class

Focus: Rhetorical devices, voice, persuasion, emotional impact
Anaphora (repetition at the beginning)

uh-NAF-uh-ruh
(a-NAF-uh-ruh)

• Stress: second syllable

• Rhymes with “camera” (roughly)

• Tip for students: “a-NAF-uh-ruh starts again at the front”

Epistrophe (repetition at the end)

eh-PISS-truh-fee
(eh-PIS-truh-fee)

• Stress: second syllable

• Ends with a long “ee” sound

• Tip: “epi-STRO-phe — the echo happens at the end”

Symploce (repetition at both beginning and end)

SIM-ploh-see
(SIM-ploh-see)

• Stress: first syllable

• The middle sounds like “flow”

• Tip: “SIM-ploh-see = same at the start AND the close”

Opening Warm-Up (5 minutes)

Prompt (silent writing):

Why do people repeat themselves when something really matters?

Encourage students to think beyond “by accident.” Possible directions:

• Emotion

• Urgency

• Memory

• Music

• Convincing an audience

• Making words stick

Brief share-out. Introduce the idea that repetition is not redundancy—it is emphasis.

Mini-Lesson: Why MLK Still Echoes (10 minutes)

Explain that Martin Luther King Jr. was not only a leader, but a master stylist of language. His speeches were:

• Rooted in sermons

• Structured like music

• Designed to be heard, not just read

He used repetition the way musicians use a chorus.

Technique 1: Anaphora (Beginning Repetition)

Definition:
Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive sentences or clauses.

Famous Example (MLK, I Have a Dream):

I have a dream that one day…
I have a dream that my four little children…
I have a dream today…

Why it works:

• Builds momentum

• Feels hopeful and expansive

• Invites the audience to lean forward

Quick Oral Exercise:
Have the class say together:

“I believe…”
Then have volunteers finish the sentence aloud, keeping the opening phrase the same.

echnique 2: Epistrophe (Ending Repetition)

Definition (tight and student-friendly):
Epistrophe is the repetition of a word or phrase at the end of consecutive sentences or clauses.

If anaphora builds at the front, epistrophe lands at the end.

Clear MLK Example (True Epistrophe)

From “The Negro Is Your Brother” (1967):

There can be no progress without sacrifice.
There can be no freedom without sacrifice.
There can be no justice without sacrifice.

Here, “without sacrifice” is repeated exactly at the end of each sentence.

Why Epistrophe Works (Explain This Explicitly)

• It pins the idea in the listener’s mind

• It feels resolute, not hopeful

• It creates a sense of finality and moral certainty

• It sounds authoritative when spoken aloud

You can tell students:

Epistrophe feels like a gavel hitting the table.

Guided Oral Practice (30 seconds)

Say aloud together:

“Justice is impossible without truth.”

Then have students repeat with new first halves but the same ending:

• Education is meaningless without truth.

• Freedom collapses without truth.

They’ll feel the device working.

Writing Exercise: Epistrophe Paragraph (Revised)

Instructions:
Write 4–6 sentences that all end with the same exact phrase.
No variation. No synonyms.

Possible ending phrases:

• …without justice.

• …for everyone.

• …right now.

• …in this country.

Quick Contrast (Optional but Clarifying)

Show this non-example:

We want justice now.
We demand fairness now.
We call for change now.

Explain:

• This sounds repetitive

• But the repeated word is not anchored structurally

• That’s emphasis — not epistrophe

Technique 3: Symploce (Beginning + Ending Repetition)

Definition:
Symploce combines anaphora and epistrophe—repeating at both the beginning and the end.

Constructed Example (MLK-style):

When we stand together, we rise together.
When we stand together, we fight together.
When we stand together, we win together.

Why it works:

• Feels formal, ceremonial, and unforgettable

• Creates a sense of unity

• Sounds almost inevitable

Explain that symploce is harder, but extremely effective.

Guided Writing: Finding a Cause (10 minutes)

Ask students to choose one thing they care deeply about, such as:

• Fairness at school

• Being misunderstood

• Environmental protection

• Friendship

• Identity

• Freedom (broadly defined)

They are not writing an essay—they are writing a speech moment.

Writing Exercise 1: Anaphora Paragraph (10 minutes)

Instructions:
Write 5–7 lines that all begin with the same phrase.

Examples of starters:

• I believe…

• We deserve…

• This is why…

• I am tired of…

Encourage simple language and strong feeling.

Writing Exercise 2: Epistrophe Paragraph (10 minutes)

Instructions:
Write 5 lines that all end with the same phrase.

Examples of endings:

• …must change.

• …matters.

• …right now.

• …for everyone.

Students should feel the rhythm as they write.

Optional Challenge: Symploce (5–10 minutes)

For advanced or confident writers:

Structure Template:

When we ______, we ______.
When we ______, we ______.
When we ______, we ______.

Encourage intentionality—not filler.

Sharing & Reflection (10 minutes)

Invite volunteers to read one paragraph aloud.

After each reading, ask:

• Which line stayed with you?

• Did the repetition change how it felt?

• Did it sound stronger spoken than read?

Closing Reflection (5 minutes)

End with this idea:

Martin Luther King Jr. understood that words do more than explain.
They move, gather, and awaken people.

Exit Question (written or spoken):
Which rhetorical device felt most natural to you—and why?

Extension Ideas (Optional)

• Rewrite a calm paragraph into a speech using repetition

• Apply these techniques to poetry or spoken word

• Analyze repetition in modern speeches, music lyrics, or sermons