3 types of Parallelism: synthetic, antithetic, emblematic

Interactive unit on the literary device 'parallelism'

In this short unit, you'll get to know a key feature of most proverbs from the Ancient Orient and do some practice to get a feeling for this literary device.

Index

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Unit 2

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Unit 1

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Introduction

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Bibliography

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Quiz

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Unit 3

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Introduction into Parallelism

Introduction into 'parallelism'

3 of the most common parallelism types

Every cultures’ poetry has its own peculiarities. While contemporary English proverbs are mostly one-line poems, Ancient Orient Wisdom Literature is mainly based on parallelism. This short unit will give you a basic introduction into it.

Unit 1

Synthetic Parallelism

Unit 1

Synthetic Parallelism

Here is a contemporary example of a synthetic parallelism:

A ship in the harbor is safe,but that is not what a ship is for.

Reflect a moment about the functions of these lines. How does each contribute to the powerfull message of the proverb? Could you skip one line? Why not?

01

Synthetic Parallelism

Now, watch the video with an example of the same parallelism from Ancient Orient Wisdom Literature.

After the video, it's time for pratice to internalize the information: Your task:

• Make up a fun proverb on your own with 2 lines on the basis of synthetic parallelism. It can be meaningful, but doesn't need to. Maybe you got inspiration in the radio this morning. It just needs to contain the covered type of parallelism.
• Note it somewhere. You will make 2 more in this unit. Afterwards, post them together at the 'collaboration forum' of your L4L-course.

Unit 2

Antithetic Parallelism

Unit 2

Antithetic Parallelism

Here is a contemporary example of a antithetic parallelism:

Anyone inexperienced puts faith in every word, but the shrewd one considers his steps

Reflect a moment about the functions of these lines. How does each contribute to the powerfull message of the proverb? Could you skip one line? What is different to synthetic parallelism?

01

Antithetic Parallelism

Now, watch the video with an example of the same parallelism from Ancient Orient Wisdom Literature.

After the video, it's time for pratice to internalize the information: Your task:

• Make up a fun proverb on your own with 2 lines on the basis of antithetic parallelism. It can be meaningful, but doesn't need to. Maybe you got inspiration in the radio this morning. It just needs to contain the covered type of parallelism.
• Note it somewhere. You will make 1 more in this unit. Afterwards, post them together at the 'collaboration forum' of your L4L-course.

Unit 3

Emblematic Parallelism

Unit 2

Emblematic Parallelism

Here is a contemporary example of a emblematic parallelism:

A closed mind is like a closed book; just a block of wood (Chinese proverb)

Reflect a moment about the different element(s) and their functions in these lines. What element contains the main message? How does the other element(s) support this message?

Emblematic Parallelism

Now, watch the video with an example of the same parallelism from Ancient Orient Wisdom Literature.

After the video, it's time for pratice to internalize the information: Your task:

• Make up a fun proverb on your own with 2 lines on the basis of emblematic parallelism. It can be meaningful, but doesn't need to. Maybe you got inspiration in the radio this morning. It just needs to contain the covered type of parallelism.
• Note it where you noted the previous 2. Afterwards, post them together at the 'collaboration forum' of your L4L-course.

Quiz

Take a thorough look at the proverbs presented to you and decide whether they contain a synthetic, antithetic or emblematic parallelism.

Question 1/5

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“A loving heart maintains a family; a hateful heart destroys a family.” (Shuruppag 202-203)

synthetic parallelism

emblematic parallelism

antithetic parallelism

Question 2/5

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Right!

O my son! teach thy son frugality and hunger, that he may do well in the management of his household. (Ahikar 41)

emblematic parallelism

antithetic parallelism

synthetic parallelism

Question 3/5

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Right!

As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes,so is the sluggard to those who send him. (Proverbs 10:26)

emblematic parallelism

antithetic parallelism

synthetic parallelism

Question 4/5

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Right!

Go not in and out of the town-council, so that thy name may not stink. (Ani 9)

synthetic parallelism

antithetic parallelism

emblematic parallelism

Question 5/5

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Right!

O my son! I have eaten a colocynth, and swallowed aloes, and I have found nothing more bitter than poverty and scarcity. (Ahikar 40)

antithetic parallelism

synthetic parallelism

emblematic parallelism

Please don't forget to post the proverbs you created at the collaboration forum.

Right!

You want to deepen your knowlege about 'parallelism'? Then have a look at literaryterms.net

Resources

Ahikar (Arabic Version): Coneybeare, F.C., Harris, J.R. (1913). The Story of Ahikar. Cambridge: University Press. Retrieved from: https://archive.org/details/HarrisConybeareLewis1913TheStoryOfAhikar Ani: Budge, E.A.W. (1924). The Teaching of Amen-Em-Apt. London: Martin Hopkinson and Company LDT. Retrieved from: https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.82818/page/n83/mode/2up Shuruppag: University of Oxford. The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature. Retrieved from: http://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/section5/tr561.htm Proverbs: The World English Bible (Public Domain). Retrieved from: https://ebible.org/find/show.php?id=eng-web

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