Chiasmus Resources

What is Chiasmus?

Chiasmus is an artistic writing style found in the texts of many ancient cultures. In chiasmus, words, phrases, or meanings are structured in an inverted pyramid style. ABBA is a simple chiasm. This page aims to document and provide resources on Chiasmus.

Chiasmus Examples

Book Of Mormon
(A) Whosoever shall not take upon him the name of Christ
(B) must be called by some other name;
(C) therefore, he findeth himself on the left hand of God.
(D) And I would that ye should remember also, that this is the name
(E) that never should be blotted out,
(F) except it be through transgression; therefore,
(F') take heed that ye do not transgress,
(E') that the name be not blotted out of your hearts
(D') I would that ye should remember to retain the name
(C') that ye are not found on the left hand of God,
(B') but that ye hear and know the voice by which ye shall be called,
(A') name by which he shall call you.
Mosiah 5:10-12
Bible
(A) Arise,
(B) Shine,
(C) For thy light is come,
(D) And the glory
(E) Of Yahweh
(F) Upon thee is risen.
(G) For behold, dimness shall cover the earth
(G') And gross darkness the peoples.
(F') But upon thee will arise
(E') Yahweh
(D') And his glory shall upon thee be seen
(C') And nations shall come to thy light
(B') And kings to the brightness
(A') Of thy rising
Isaiah 60:1-3
John F. Kennedy Speech
(A) Ask not what your country
(B) Can do for you,
(B') ask what you can do
(A') for your country
Inaugural Address, John F. Kennedy