Asyndeton may sound like a crazy word with a complex definition, but it’s actually pretty simple and easy to understand! But what is asyndeton? We’re going to define asyndeton with a clear and concise definition, then we’re going to examine some asyndeton examples in writing. By the end, you’ll know what asyndeton is and how to apply it in your own work.
Polysyndeton and Asyndeton Differentiated
First, let’s define Asyndeton
Asyndeton deals with the grammatical structure, aka syntax, and the differences it can take depending on the words a writer uses. This next video examines how asyndeton (and its quasi-antonym) polysyndeton work!
What is Polysyndeton and Asyndeton? • WarnerJordan Education
So, asyndeton and polysyndeton definitely are different – but what is asyndeton? Fret not, let’s answer that question with an asyndeton definition.
ASYNDETON DEFINITION
What is asyndeton?
Asyndeton is a grammar term used to refer to the lack of conjunctions within a sentence’s structure. Asyndeton can be considered both a stylistic choice and a rhetorical device. Writers use asyndeton as a concision tool to effectively emphasize their ideas to audiences.
Eliminates Conjunctions Such As:
- And
- But
- Yet
- So
What is Asyndeton in Writing?
Asyndeton examples in writing
Asyndeton has been used for thousands of years across languages. For example: Julius Caesar employed it when he said “Vend, vidi, vici” which translates from Latin as “I came, I saw, I conquered.” In this short example, Caesar eliminates conjunctions, and quickly gets to the point of action.
Here are some other famous asyndeton examples in literature:
Rhetoric by Aristotle
“This is the villain among you who deceived you, who cheated you, who meant to betray you completely…”
Who better to glean insight on rhetorical techniques than the master of rhetoric himself: Aristotle. Here, the Greek philosopher puts emphasis on the actions – deception, cheating, and betrayal – by omitting conjunctions.
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
Define Asyndeton in Writing • Asyndeton in Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, Still From Apocalypse Now
“The air was thick, warm, heavy, sluggish.”
Conrad omits conjunctions to exacerbate the negative description of the setting. The air in this environment is thick, warm, heavy, sluggish. Not thick, warm, heavy, and sluggish. Each adjective carries the same weight as the other.
Asyndenton examples
Asyndeton examples in speeches
Asyndeton is also a useful technique for public speakers. Let’s take a look at a few famous asyndeton examples where prominent public speakers disregard conjunctions in favor of clear, direct syntax.
Winston Churchhill “We Shall Fight” Speech
“We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight with growing confidence…”
Churchill uses asyndeton throughout his famous “We Shall Fight Speech” to effectively communicate the resolve of Britain’s courage in the face of danger.
Steve Jobs “Think Different” Speech
What is Asyndeton? • Look to Apple’s ‘Think Different’ Campaign
“Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the ones who see things differently.”
Steve Jobs, a modern master of communication for the digital age, used asyndeton in perhaps his most famous marketing slogan ever; “the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the ones who see things differently,” crucially, not “and the crazy ones.”
Asyndeton Rhetorical Device and Musical Tool
Asyndeton examples in songs
Ardent music fans may be thinking… “don’t songwriters use asyndeton all the time?” And the answer to that question is: yes they do! Asyndeton is used in music as both a rhetorical device (outlined above) and as a stylistic tool to stick to song’s flow.
Here’s a great example from the Disney film Aladdin:
Asyndeton Examples in Songs • Aladdin “A Whole New World”
“I can show you the world: shining, shimmering, splendid.”
In this example, the writer employs asyndeton to keep to the flow of the music. Later, they employ asyndeton again, with the line “soaring, tumbling, freewheeling through an endless diamond sky.”
Up Next
What is Sentence Structure?
We touched on sentence structure in our examination of asyndeton – but there’s so much more to the term than what we went over here. Want to learn more about sentence structure? Check out our next article where we break down sentence structure with examples from compound sentences, complex sentences, and more. By the end, you’ll know all the syntax basics.
