What is an isocolon (literary device)? Definition and examples

What is an isocolon?

An isocolon is a literary device which repeats clauses of equal or near grammatical and structural form.

An isocolon typically repeats the length, sound and rhythm of each clause. These clauses can be as short as a single word or as long as a whole paragraph.

Isocolon examples

Roses are red, violets are blue

Signed, sealed, delivered 

Marry in haste, repent at leisure.

Buy one, get one free

Bicolon

A bicolon is for two clauses.

I love you, you love me.

Tricolon

A tricolon is for three clauses.

I love you, you love me, she loves me.

Tetracolon

A tetracolon for four clauses.

I love you, you love me, she loves me, he loves me. 

Isocolon in literature

The most famous use of isocolon is arguably by James Joyce in A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (1916).

“Pity is the feeling which arrests the mind in the presence of whatsoever is grave and constant in human sufferings and unites it with the sufferer. Terror is the feeling which arrests the mind in the presence of whatsoever is grave and constant in human sufferings and unites it with the secret cause…”

The clauses are nearly identical, except for the first and last words.

Another classic example is from Charles Dickens' A 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…”

How to use isocolon in fiction writing

An isocolon is appealing because it establishes rhythm and looks visually pleasing. It also creates balance in paragraphs and this in turn leads to the words showing authority.

Isocolons work best when they are short and to the point. You'll want to draw on these strengths when using this technique in your writing, especially your use of rhythm.

 However, when overused, they can feel forced so use isocolon sparingly in your writing.

An isocolon also adds emphasis to specific words, namely the words that differ which is useful for building imagery and contrast between your characters. You can use this to highlight a character's unique traits, or how characters complement each other well.

Using isocolon in fantasy

An example of using an isocolon in a fantasy novel could be:

He reached for the sword, she reached for the bow. 

Using isocolon in romance

For a romance novel, an isocolon could look like:

She lost him in the crowd. He found her in the chaos.  

Conclusion

While isocolon typically repeats the length and grammatical pattern of each clause, it doesn't have to be an exact match. This last sentence is an example of that. Remember, as long as the rhythm flows and it sounds good when you read it, it doesn't matter!