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Uncover the art of reversing sentence structure and embellishing words poetically. Learn how to create impactful and eloquent expressions with inverted syntax and heightened diction.
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Rhetorical Terms #3 Inverted sentences & wax poetic
Inverted Sentence (syntax • Traditional English Syntax S-V-C • Inverted moves parts of the sentence around. • When you reach 900 years old, you will not look as good. • When 900 years old you reach, look as good you will not. (YODA )
Wax poetic (diction) • Waxing (v.) – the phase of the moon when the size increases. • Wax poetic – to become increasingly verbose or romantic in one’s diction, often when it is not warranted. • He waxed poetic over the loss of his homework. • Similar phrase: ‘purple patch’ or ‘purple prose’ is language dense with technique and figurative language.
A pun on wax • It would be remiss to leave out a Marx Brothers gag at this point. Groucho Marx's role as Professor Quincy Adams Wagstaff in the 1932 film Horse Feathers yielded this gem: • Wagstaff's Receptionist: The Dean is furious! He's waxing wroth!Prof. Wagstaff: Is Roth out there, too? Tell Roth to wax the Dean for awhile • http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/wax-poetic.html