A literary device in which parts of a sentence are grammatically the same, or are similar in construction Is known as__________

1. Analyze the question The question asks for the literary device where parts of a sentence are grammatically the same or similar in construction. The key phrase is "similar in construction."

2. Explain the concept Parallelism (also called parallel structure) means using the same grammatical pattern for words, phrases, or clauses that are related or equal in importance. It creates rhythm, balance, and emphasis.

Examples:

• "Veni, vidi, vici" (I came, I saw, I conquered)
• "To err is human; to forgive, divine."
• "She likes reading, writing, and painting." (all -ing forms)

3. Go through the options

• A. Simile: a direct comparison using "like" or "as" (e.g., "brave as a lion"). It has nothing to do with sentence structure.
• B. Aside: a dramatic device where a character speaks briefly to the audience, and the other characters on stage do not hear it.
• C. Parallelism: repeating the same or a similar grammatical structure across parts of a sentence or across sentences. This matches the definition exactly.
• D. Irony: a contrast between what is expected or said and what actually happens or is meant.

4. Answer The correct option is **C.

5. Exam tip Link the word to its root: "parallel" lines run side by side in the same direction, so parallel structures run side by side in the same grammatical form. When a JAMB Literature question says "similar in construction," "balanced structure," or "same grammatical pattern," think parallelism.