Assurbanipal_II
Nyampress of the Four Corners of the World
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Today we visit another rhetorical device, the so called zeugma.
Last time, some were wondering about the strange names of the devices, which is understandable. Because they are old. They are Greek and easily date back 2 500 years to the beginning of European literature.
So, yes, these techniques are ancient in origin.
Anyway, what is a zeugma? A zeugma is when two clauses or objects are joined together by a single construction. The construction can stay the same or vary depending on your choice.
Zeugmas are often regarded as "incorrect" by traditional grammar, yet a zeugma is not an error, but an intentional construction that bends the rules of grammar for stylistic effect.
This is one of the reasons why the zeugma and other rhetorical devices are often misidentified even by native speakers. They don't know about them and thus mistake them for "grammatical errors".
Now, away from theory to some examples. The theory makes them sound more complex than they really are.
He works his work, I mine
- Alfred Tennyson, Ulysses
The verb "work" connects here both "he" and "his work", and "I" and "mine".
We have just a single verbs, but the sentence reads essentially,
He works his work, [and] I [work] mine.
The zeugma allows us to omit the "and" and second "work" for dramatic effect.
This is the simpler version, where the meaning of the verb stays the same.
It becomes more complicated when the meaning contrasts,
They covered themselves with dust and glory.
- Mark Twain, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
The verb "covered with" is here the connector, but it connects two seemingly contradicting objects, two different concepts. Dust. And glory.
This type of zeugma creates a contradiction, where in reality is none. You put emphasis on your sentence by introducing what seems illogical at first sight. The purpose is to make your reader stumble. To make them consider. The reader will need to halt and think, what the hell does this mean?
That makes your sentences memorable. They are not replaceable.
Last time, some were wondering about the strange names of the devices, which is understandable. Because they are old. They are Greek and easily date back 2 500 years to the beginning of European literature.
So, yes, these techniques are ancient in origin.
Anyway, what is a zeugma? A zeugma is when two clauses or objects are joined together by a single construction. The construction can stay the same or vary depending on your choice.
Zeugmas are often regarded as "incorrect" by traditional grammar, yet a zeugma is not an error, but an intentional construction that bends the rules of grammar for stylistic effect.
This is one of the reasons why the zeugma and other rhetorical devices are often misidentified even by native speakers. They don't know about them and thus mistake them for "grammatical errors".
Now, away from theory to some examples. The theory makes them sound more complex than they really are.
He works his work, I mine
- Alfred Tennyson, Ulysses
The verb "work" connects here both "he" and "his work", and "I" and "mine".
We have just a single verbs, but the sentence reads essentially,
He works his work, [and] I [work] mine.
The zeugma allows us to omit the "and" and second "work" for dramatic effect.
This is the simpler version, where the meaning of the verb stays the same.
It becomes more complicated when the meaning contrasts,
They covered themselves with dust and glory.
- Mark Twain, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
The verb "covered with" is here the connector, but it connects two seemingly contradicting objects, two different concepts. Dust. And glory.
This type of zeugma creates a contradiction, where in reality is none. You put emphasis on your sentence by introducing what seems illogical at first sight. The purpose is to make your reader stumble. To make them consider. The reader will need to halt and think, what the hell does this mean?
That makes your sentences memorable. They are not replaceable.
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It is important to know them, so you can throw them at critical readers.
