Assurbanipal_II
Empress of the Four Corners of the World
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- Jul 27, 2019
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To contribute to the general knowledge, we will discuss today two rhetorical devices, the asyndeton, and the polysyndeton.
What are they?
Both, the asyndeton as well as the polysyndeton, are closely related and describes different approaches to sentences construction when it comes to conjunction use.
Usually, we use conjunctions to join clauses and objects. We use them selectively. The asyndeton and the polysyndeton, however, ignore the latter rule completely. Many of you might use them already unconsciously.
The polysyndeton is the deliberate repeated use of conjunctions to create a continuous flow and slow down the sentence.
Example:
And soon it lightly dipped, and rose, and sank,
We have here a rhythmic repetition achieved through the use of and. It is a perfectly viable use and grammatically correct.
Now the asyndeton. It is the contrary, the deliberate omission of conjunctions to speed up the rhythm. You hurry the reader. You have a sense of urgency. You have unbound sentences, either through the use of commata or periods.
Example:
"We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender. . ."
We have here a coordination of sentences only held together by commata. No and. No or. And it works.
What are they?
Both, the asyndeton as well as the polysyndeton, are closely related and describes different approaches to sentences construction when it comes to conjunction use.
Usually, we use conjunctions to join clauses and objects. We use them selectively. The asyndeton and the polysyndeton, however, ignore the latter rule completely. Many of you might use them already unconsciously.
The polysyndeton is the deliberate repeated use of conjunctions to create a continuous flow and slow down the sentence.
Example:
And soon it lightly dipped, and rose, and sank,
We have here a rhythmic repetition achieved through the use of and. It is a perfectly viable use and grammatically correct.
Now the asyndeton. It is the contrary, the deliberate omission of conjunctions to speed up the rhythm. You hurry the reader. You have a sense of urgency. You have unbound sentences, either through the use of commata or periods.
Example:
"We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender. . ."
We have here a coordination of sentences only held together by commata. No and. No or. And it works.