Mitch Albom Uses a Rhetorical Device

Anaphora is a rhetorical device wherein the author begins consecutive lines with the same word or phrase, generally to create a crescendo-like effect.

It can be used to give the impression of writerliness and/or to mount an offensive on the reader’s faith in human potential, as demonstrated by Mitch Albom in his Detroit Free Press article on Justin Verlander’s AL MVP victory, the relevant excerpt of which article you can read here (bold is mine):

And here’s the best part:

He earned it.

He earned it because he went 24-5. He earned it because he owned his starts from June through September. He earned it because he had 250 strikeouts and was as close to a sure thing as you get in sports. He earned it because he rested the next day’s bullpen every time he pitched into the seventh, eighth or ninth.

He earned it because whenever the Tigers slipped on a banana peel, he was there to catch them, breaking possible slumps, keeping climbing opponents at bay.

He earned it because he was dominant. Because he was lights out. Because he threw a no-hitter and threatened a couple more. Because he got stronger as the game went on, relying on placement early and bringing the heat late. Who throws FASTER in the eighth inning? Are you kidding?

It can also convey the sense of infinite possibility and strength, as demonstrated by poet Steve Zultanski who, in his poem “Anal Cars”, replaces the model name of a number of cars with the word anal. Here’s an excerpt from that text (which appears in Zultanski’s book Cop Kisser):

Anal Ram

Anal Compass

Anal Passport

Anal Dart

Anal M151A1C

Anal Eclipse

Anal Beagle

Anal Citation

Anal Quest

Anal Wrangler

Anal Outback

Anal Park Avenue Essence