The Power of Chiasmus in Speechwriting

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Chiasmus, the art of using parallel phrases in reverse order, is a key technique in speechwriting to create memorable and impactful speeches. John F. Kennedy masterfully used chiasmus in his inaugural speech with lines like 'Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.' Chiasmus appeals to humans' love for symmetry and creates clarity and eloquence, making statements instantly powerful and believable. Other notable figures like George Bush Jr. and Obama have also successfully used chiasmus in their speeches, demonstrating how this technique can produce memorable lines that resonate with the audience and stand the test of time.

What do Katy Perry, Charles Dickens, and the Bible all have in common? They’re responsible for some of the most famous lines in history. And in this episode, you’ll find out why.

Mark, an author and mad scientist of language, reveals the secret sauce to memorable writing: rhetorical devices. Chiasmus. Anaphora. Antithesis. Synecdoche.

Writing today (i.e. texting and Tweeting) is concise and hyper-minimal — which is fine, if you’re writing the instruction manual for a new dishwasher. But the most memorable works of writing lean into the beauty of words. It’s not about using overly purple prose. It’s about using rhetorical formulas to create unforgettable lines, to shape ideas that stick in your reader’s brain.

If you want to write something that sticks in your reader’s brain — a book, a poem, a speech — then this episode is for you.

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