Which device is defined as "a triadic parallel structure"?

• A. Tricolon.
• B. Metaphor.
• C. Allusion.
• D. Irony.

Answer: (A)

A triadic parallel structure is a form of parallelism built from three elements presented in a balanced, rhythmically similar sequence. This three-part balance is called a tricolon, and it emphasizes and reinforces the idea by marching the thought forward in a memorable, chant-like cadence. You can see it in lines like “I came, I saw, I conquered,” where three clauses share the same grammatical form, strengthening the impact through symmetry.

Metaphor, by contrast, is a direct comparison between two unlike things, not a three-part sentence pattern. Allusion refers to a brief, indirect reference to a person, place, event, or work, again not about three parallel elements. Irony involves a contrast between what is said or expected and what actually happens, often with a tone of discrepancy, not a three-part rhythm.