Inversion

Inversion is a stylistic figure consisting in the violation of the usual, direct word order in a sentence for the sake of expressively emphasising a certain word or lending speech a solemn, poetic colouring. A word moved to an unusual position (a modifier after the modified word, the predicate before the subject) falls into a strong, accented position and attracts the reader's attention. Inversion is closely linked to the rhythm and intonation of verse: in poetry it is often conditioned also by the demands of metre and rhyme. As a means of expressive syntax, inversion lends the utterance emotionality, elevation or archaic solemnity. Its excessive use, however, may complicate the perception of the text, so mastery lies in the justification of each displacement.