When a phrase is repeated

[Kasper Hviid]

The much-repeated phrase is a way powerful trope! Just check the potency of these examples:

"Once upon a time"
"They killed Kenny!"
"Shaken, not stirred."
"My name is Bond. James Bond."
"Damn fine coffee!"
"Same procedure as every year"
"The owls are not what they seem."
"Fire walk with me."

When a phrase is repeated, you know it's important. When a phrase is repeated, it gains substance, becomes a thing of its own. When a phrase is repeated, it almost seems magical, something more than the sum of its words. If we look at fairytales, they often begin with "Once upon a time" and contains a lot of repetition. In Grimm's THE FISHERMAN AND HIS WIFE, the refrain is repeated six times, followed by a reaction that runs the same way each time, save for the last.
H. C. Andersens short story ELVERHØJ ends and begins with the phrase "se kan den jo ikke, det elendige dyr" which roughly translates to "but it can't see, that poor creature". This serves to tell that things are still the same, underlining the tales slice-of-life feel.

In Harlan Ellison's short story KNOX, the phrase "Knox is a man who ..." is chanted like a mantra. (Strunk & White claims that 'is a man who' shall be reduced to 'is' for effectivity, but I always found that book rather silly)

The signature phrase is an interesting variant. In Phryne Smith, the phrase "Too right!" belongs to Cec; in ARCHER, the phrase "This is just classic mom!" belongs to Archer; in JAMES BOND, the phrase "Shaken, not stirred" belongs to James Bond; in PSYCH, the phrase "I heard it both ways." belongs to Shawn Spencer. Oftenmost, the signature phrase is the characters essence in its purest form.

In TWIN PEAKS season 3, this scene makes great use of repetition:

The series also features a scene where the phrase "Gotta light" is repeated. Same trick, where an everyday phrase is granted deeper meaning, is seen in the TV show CULT: "Well hey, those things just snap right off". Likewise, the TV show THE THIRD DAY constantly insists that "they're good people". In the game HARVESTER, everyone repeats the phrase "You always were a kidder, Steve."

Lots of use of repetition in this thing, too:

There's also the refrains in songs. In Moonlight Shadow, the phrase "carried away by a moonlight shadow" is said eight times, and the "I stay, I pray" intermezzo is said twice.

Music in general is all about repetition, even when there is no lyrics:

All that said, the catchphrase may seem a bit gimmickry and blatant; a little bit too showy. Still, I think it's a very potent tool, a tool worth considering when you compose your writing. It can alter the rhythm like nothing else.

 

[Svrtnsse]

I do this a lot in my writing.
Sometime it works out, sometimes not.

Or, maybe, not so much catchphrases as just repetition, to try and enhance the impact of something, or to create a certain kind of mood.

It's indeed a great tool, but I find it's a tricky one to use right. Often it's a spur of the moment thing, and then when I go back to revise it later, it's not nearly as good as it felt when I originally wrote it.

 

[Kasper Hviid]

Yeah, it's tricky. Sometimes when you read it, you do this double-take where you go "Hey, word repetition! ... Well okay, it's intentional".

 

[S.T. Ockenner]

Spoiler: This is a phrase

this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase. this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase. this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase. this is a 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[S.T. Ockenner]

Spoiler: This is a phrase

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is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a phrase. this is a phrase.this is a phrase.this is a /SPOILER]

I had to shorten that.

 

[WooHooMan]

I actually worked the idea into my setting’s magic system.
It’s also a major theme in the story that phrases become more powerful, meaningful or true the more they’re repeated.

I should probably make a separate list for all the important phrases and words in the book. I’m surprised I haven’t done that yet.

Anyways, I got the idea from Van Morrison. Whenever he’s in one of his “mystic” phases, his lyrics tend to make heavy use of repetition (see Listen to the Lion/the Lion Speaks).

 

[The Dark One]

It didn't work for Jar Jar Binks.

"How rude!"

No-one cared. Everyone wanted him dead.

 

[Prince of Spires]

It didn't work for Jar Jar Binks.

"How rude!"

No-one cared. Everyone wanted him dead.

It did work. The more he repeated the phrase, the more dead people wanted him...

 

[Demesnedenoir]

That’s because he ripped it off from Full House. I’m not sure when Jar Jar watched 80’s tv but it was obvious he did.

It didn't work for Jar Jar Binks.

"How rude!"

No-one cared. Everyone wanted him dead.

 

[Don Coyote]

Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra