Antilabe is a dramatic and rhetorical device in which a single line of verse is split between two or more characters, so that each speaker delivers part of the line. It is often used in classical Greek and Roman drama to speed up dialogue and create tension or urgency.
✅ Definition:
A line of verse shared by multiple characters in dialogue, with each taking a portion.
💡 Example (original):
- Character A: “I cannot believe—”
- Character B: “—that you would betray us!”
Here, the line “I cannot believe that you would betray us!” is split between the two speakers.
Another example from a classical-style play:
- King: “We must defend—”
- Queen: “—our kingdom at all costs!”
And there it is! Now go ahead and use antilabe in your CXC prep/CSEC prep.
New tips added daily! Subscribe!
Leave a comment