A Masterpiece: Alma 36

Title

A Masterpiece: Alma 36

Book Title

Rediscovering the Book of Mormon

Publication Type

Book Chapter

Chapter

11

Year of Publication

1991

Authors

Welch, John W. (Primary)

Editors

Sorenson, John L. (Secondary), and Thorne, Melvin J. (Secondary)

Pagination

114-131

Publisher

FARMS

City

Provo, UT

Terms of use

Items in the BMC Archive are made publicly available for non-commercial, private use. Inclusion within the BMC Archive does not imply endorsement. Items do not represent the official views of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or of Book of Mormon Central.

Bibliographic Citation

Abstract

Chiasmus is a style of writing known in antiquity and mused by many ancient and some modern writers. It consists of arranging a series of words or ideas in one order, and then repeating it in reverse order. In the hands of a skillful writer, this literary form can serve several purposes. The repeating of key words in the two halves underlines the importance of the concepts they present. Furthermore, the main idea of the passage is placed at the turning point where the second half begins, which emphasizes it. The repeating form also enhances clarity and speeds memorizing. Readers (or listeners) gain a pleasing sense of completeness as the passage returns at the end to the idea that began it. Identifying the presence of chiasmus in a composition can reveal many complex and subtle features of the text.
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Table of Contents

Book

Rediscovering the Book of Mormon: Insights That You May Have Missed Before
Sorenson, John L.

23 Chapters

Nephi's Use of Lehi's Record
Brown, S. Kent | pp. 3-14
Mormon as Editor
Hardy, Grant R. | pp. 15-28
Mormon's Editorial Promises
Tvedtnes, John A. | pp. 29-31
Colophons in the Book of Mormon
Tvedtnes, John A. | pp. 32-37
Nephi and the Exodus
Terry L. Szink | pp. 38-51
Jacob and His Descendants as Authors
Tanner, John S. | pp. 52-66
The Stealing of the Daughters of the Lamanites
Goff, Alan | pp. 67-74
The Hebrew Background of the Book of Mormon
Tvedtnes, John A. | pp. 77-91
Mourning, Consolation, and Repentance at Nahom
Goff, Alan | pp. 92-99
Poetry in the Book of Mormon
Rust, Richard Dilworth | pp. 100-113
A Masterpiece: Alma 36
Welch, John W. | pp. 114-131
Book of Mormon Imagery
Rust, Richard Dilworth | pp. 132-139
The Image of the Hand of God in the Book of Mormon and the Old Testament
Seely, David Rolph | pp. 140-150
"Means unto Repentance": Unique Book of Mormon Insights into Christ's At-one-ment
England, Eugene | pp. 153-167
The Ways of Remembrance
Midgley, Louis C. | pp. 168-176
Jesus' Covenant Teachings in Third Nephi
Ludlow, Victor L. | pp. 177-185
The Gathering of Israel in the Book of Mormon: A Consistent Pattern
Millet, Robert L. | pp. 186-196
Isaiah-Key to the Book of Mormon
Gileadi, Avraham | pp. 197-206
King, Coronation, and Covenant in Mosiah 1-6
Ricks, Stephen D. | pp. 209-219
Nephi's Political Testament
Reynolds, Noel B. | pp. 220-229
The Covenant Tradition in the Book of Mormon
Ostler, Blake T. | pp. 230-240
Warfare in the Book of Mormon
Hamblin, William J. | pp. 241-248
Seasons of War, Seasons of Peace in the Book of Mormon
Sorenson, John L. | pp. 249-255
Parallelism
Chiasmus
Historicity
Chiasm

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