Never Let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You
What do Mae West, John F. Kennedy, Victor Hugo, and H. L. Mencken have in common? They all indulged in chiasmus-a literary device in which word order is reversed to hilarious or poignant effect. When Mae West said, "It's not the men in my life, it's the life in my men," she was using chiasmus; when John F. Kennedy said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country," he was doing the same. Dr. Mardy Grothe has compiled hundreds of examples of chiasmus in this...
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What do Mae West, John F. Kennedy, Victor Hugo, and H. L. Mencken have in common? They all indulged in chiasmus-a literary device in which word order is reversed to hilarious or poignant effect. When Mae West said, "It's not the men in my life, it's the life in my men," she was using chiasmus; when John F. Kennedy said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country," he was doing the same. Dr. Mardy Grothe has compiled hundreds of examples of chiasmus in this whimsically illustrated collection, bringing this witty and thought-provoking device out of obscurity and into the public imagination. "There is plenty of delight in this overdue collection." (Houston Chronicle)
Introduction: "Pardon Me, Do You Know What Chiasmus Means?"ixChapter 1Chiastic Wordplay1Chapter 2Chiastic Maxims to Guide Your Life9Chapter 3Chiastic Comparisons16Chapter 4The Battle of the Sexes, Chiasmus Style23Chapter 5Chiastic Compliments and Insults29Chapter 6Chiasmus on Stage and Screen37Chapter 7Political Chiasmus45Chapter 8Chiasmus in the World of Sports54Chapter 9Chiasmus in Advertising60Chapter 10Chiasmus for CEOs66Chapter 11Chiasmus for Book Lovers74Chapter 12Chiasmus for Lovers82Chapter 13Chiasmus in Marriage and Family Life91Chapter 14Chiastic Insights from Great Philosophers98Chapter 15Chiastic Repartee104Chapter 16Implied Chiasmus113Index121
