Asyndeton


Asyndeton (a-syn’-de-ton): The omission of conjunctions between clauses, often resulting in a hurried rhythm or vehement effect. [Compare brachylogia. Opposite of polysyndeton.]


A: Big, little, blue, green, warm, cold, hot. This isn’t a riddle. It’s the tattoo on my chest. Big: the tattoo itself. Little: the troop of ants spelling my name in a circle. Blue: the tattoo’s background. Green: the four leaf clover between the first and last letters of my ant-troop name. Warm: the cheeseburger in the tattoo’s center. Cold: the ice cube above the cheeseburger. Hot: the rays of the sun emanating from the tattoo’s blue background.

I would show you the tattoo now, but this is only our first date and Smudge’s Bar & Grill is hardly where I want to tear my shirt open. There would be screaming, fainting, moaning, crying and rolling on the floor. We don’t need that!

Where are you going? I’ve got a lot more to tell you about myself. I’m a genius, weight lifter, world class chef, artist, rodeo clown, astronaut. Come on! I bet you have a lot to tell me!

B: Yes: you’re crazy. If you try to contact me again for any reason, I’ll call the police and have you cited for stalking. Got it?

A: Yes, but I think you’d enjoy seeing me cloning at the weekly rodeo. Here’s a ticket.


Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu). Bracketed text added by Gorgias.

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