Repetition in Ecclesiastes
Repetition in Ecclesiastes
Term: Repetition
Repetition is the re-use of a particular term, word, phrase or sound more than once in a literary work in close proximity.
Example
“Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; vanity of vanities, all is vanity” (Eccl. 1:2)
Function
The context is King Solomon, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. This is located in Ecclesiastes, a book of the bible. He relays how men go through the motions of life and work aimlessly, selfishly and vainly, their labor thus fruitless and hollow.
Repetition functions in the passage as an emphasis of the points, opinions and views of King Solomon. Vanity is a strong word and King Solomon uses it constantly to emphasize his question of why man should work so hard when he may or may not get anything in return. He questions the worth of hard work and toil. Repetition of the same word locks the concept of the purpose of hard work in the minds of readers. Also, the repetition of the word “vanity” sets the tone for the passage, the tone of contempt, criticism, and cynicism. With the repetition of a word that reflects utter pointlessness, Solomon conveys an image of hollowness that nothing is really worth the energy or time. Vanity means fakeness. King Solomon might have come to the realization that everything is superficial. This reinforces that man’s labor is fruitless. “Vanity” refers to man’s self-serving nature, and his tendency to be concerned with his own affairs rather than the well-being of those around him.
The repetition of the word vanity connects to the larger concept that Solomon speaks of. Men are selfish by nature; everything they do is fake and vain. They do not do anything out of empathy for fellow human beings or because they truly want to do it. Instead, they are self-serving, their labors mindless and pointless, as it is all a mass of superficiality. Solomon mentions the cyclical nature of life; the sun rises and sets, the winds go south and north, the generations
Term: Repetition
Repetition is the re-use of a particular term, word, phrase or sound more than once in a literary work in close proximity.
Example
“Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; vanity of vanities, all is vanity” (Eccl. 1:2)
Function
The context is King Solomon, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. This is located in Ecclesiastes, a book of the bible. He relays how men go through the motions of life and work aimlessly, selfishly and vainly, their labor thus fruitless and hollow.
Repetition functions in the passage as an emphasis of the points, opinions and views of King Solomon. Vanity is a strong word and King Solomon uses it constantly to emphasize his question of why man should work so hard when he may or may not get anything in return. He questions the worth of hard work and toil. Repetition of the same word locks the concept of the purpose of hard work in the minds of readers. Also, the repetition of the word “vanity” sets the tone for the passage, the tone of contempt, criticism, and cynicism. With the repetition of a word that reflects utter pointlessness, Solomon conveys an image of hollowness that nothing is really worth the energy or time. Vanity means fakeness. King Solomon might have come to the realization that everything is superficial. This reinforces that man’s labor is fruitless. “Vanity” refers to man’s self-serving nature, and his tendency to be concerned with his own affairs rather than the well-being of those around him.
The repetition of the word vanity connects to the larger concept that Solomon speaks of. Men are selfish by nature; everything they do is fake and vain. They do not do anything out of empathy for fellow human beings or because they truly want to do it. Instead, they are self-serving, their labors mindless and pointless, as it is all a mass of superficiality. Solomon mentions the cyclical nature of life; the sun rises and sets, the winds go south and north, the generations