Hysteron proteron

The hysteron Proteron ( " The Later as Former "; plural: Hystera - protera; ancient Greek ὕστερον hysteron " the later, the following " πρότερον Proteron " the earlier, the Preliminary ", German " wrong sequence" ) is one of the rhetorical figures. In applying this style means there is a reversal of the temporal or logical order of a statement, that is: The later process is facing the former.

Because a hysteron Proteron represents a break with the expected syntactic order, it can be counted among the set of pieces.

Examples

" Nevertheless, as the servant scare faded, a few moments after the shed collapsed behind him, with the horses, which he held by the hand, stepped out of it, he was no longer Kohlhaas "

" My name is Doris and thus am baptized and Christian and born "

"Let us die and rush into your arms! "

The often cited as an example the words of Mephistopheles

"Your husband is dead and can greet you "

Relate their ironic ambiguity from the fact that although they of Marthe, who does not know who she's talking, must appear as hysteron Proteron. The audience, however, it is clear that the deceased by Mephisto actually says hello from beyond the grave.