Prolepsis (pro-lep’-sis): (1) A synonym for procatalepsis [refuting anticipated objections]; (2) speaking of something future as though already done or existing. A figure of anticipation.
1. You tell me you’re faithful—that you’ll always love me. Ha! You make us dinner? Ha! So does the guy at Arby’s when we go there. Does he love me? You have sex with me? Ha! What do you call sex? Watching “Wheel of Fortune” together? What about the guy that lives in the basement? Bill’s not your brother—I checked—you don’t have a brother. Things are adding up: 1,2,3 get the hell away from me.
2. We’re going to Pasta Palace tonight! I’m going to have the Mountain of Spaghetti with those basketball-sized meatballs, at least two bottles of vino, and the special Holy Cannoli with the plastic lamb on it. I can smell it. I can taste it. Who’s paying for it?
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu). Bracketed text added by Gorgias.
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