Hysteron Proteron (rhetorical figure)
The hysteron proteron ("the later than earlier"; plural: hystera-protera ; ancient Greek ὕστερον hýsteron "the later, the following", πρότερον próteron "the earlier, the preceding"; German "false consequence") is one of the rhetorical figures . When using this stylistic device, the chronological or logical sequence of a statement is reversed, i.e. the later process comes before the earlier one.
Because a hysteron proteron represents a break with the expected syntactic order, it can be counted among the sentence figures .
Examples
"Nevertheless, when the farmhand pale as a horror, a few moments after the shed collapsed behind him, emerged with the horses he was holding by the hand, he could no longer find the Kohlhaas"
"My name is Doris and I am baptized and Christian and born"
"Moriamur et in media arma ruamus"
"Let's die and throw ourselves into arms!"
The words Mephistus often cited as an example
"Your husband is dead and sends his regards"
derive their ironic ambiguity from the fact that they must appear to Marthe, who does not know who she is talking to, as a hysteron proteron. However, it is clear to the audience that through Mephisto the deceased actually sends greetings from the afterlife.
See also
literature
- Hadumod Bußmann (Ed.): Lexicon of Linguistics. 3rd, updated and expanded edition. Kröner, Stuttgart 2002, ISBN 3-520-45203-0 , p. 285.