Describe Chiastic Structure

• A. A rhetorical device that repeats the exact same words in reverse order.
• B. A literary structure that places corresponding elements in symmetric order around a central idea.
• C. A sequence of events described chronologically.
• D. A form of poetry that uses acrostics.

Answer: (B)

Chiastic structure is a way of organizing ideas in a mirrored, symmetric pattern around a central point, so the ideas at the beginning correspond to the ideas at the end, with the next pair mirroring each other and the middle element standing out as the focal idea. The term comes from the Greek letter chi, which looks like an X, signaling this crosswise arrangement where themes are repeated in reverse order to highlight the center. This emphasizes balance and connection by showing how outer elements relate to the core message. It’s not just about repeating exact words backward, but about presenting parallel ideas in reverse order to draw attention to the central idea. It isn’t a simple chronological sequence, and it isn’t about acrostics, which use letters to spell out words.