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Zeugma and syllepsis

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Figures of speech

This article is about the rhetorical concept. For other uses, see Zeugma (disambiguation).

Zeugma (/ˈzjuːɡmə/ ⓘ) is the use of a word to modify or govern two or more words or phrases.[1] The term comes from the Ancient Greek ζεῦγμα, zeûgma, lit. "a yoking together".[2] An example may be "rolling lightning and thunder", where "rolling" is applied to two nouns ("lightning" and "thunder").

Syllepsis (/sɪˈlɛpsɪs/) is a form of zeugma used in such a manner that it applies to each word or phrase in a different sense. It is from the Ancient Greek σύλληψις, súllēpsis, lit. "a taking together"[3]) An example may be "she opened the door and her heart to the stray kitten", where "opened" applies in two contrasting senses.[4][5] A syllepsis may evidence poor usage, or may be used in a humorous or a rhetorical manner.

Definitions<br>[edit]

In current usage, there are multiple and sometimes conflicting definitions for zeugma and syllepsis.[6] This article categorizes these two figures of speech into four types, based on four definitions:

Type 1<br>[edit]

Grammatical syllepsis (sometimes also called zeugma): where a single word is used in relation to two parts of a sentence although grammatically or logically applying to only one.[3][7]

By definition, grammatical syllepsis will often be grammatically "incorrect" according to traditional grammatical rules. However, such solecisms are sometimes not errors but intentional constructions in which the rules of grammar are bent by necessity or for stylistic effect.

"He works his work, I mine."

This quote from Alfred Tennyson's poem "Ulysses" is ungrammatical from a grammarian's viewpoint, because "works" does not grammatically agree with "I": the sentence "I works mine" would be ungrammatical. On the other hand, Tennyson's two phrases could be taken to deploy a different figure of speech, namely "ellipsis". The sentence would be taken to mean,

"He works his work, [and] I [work] mine."

Interpreted in this way, the conjunction is not ungrammatical.

Type 2<br>[edit]

Zeugma (often also called syllepsis, or semantic syllepsis): a single word is used in two parts of a sentence but must be understood differently in relation to each.[8][9][10][11] Example: "He took his hat and his leave." The type of figure is grammatically correct but creates its effect by seeming, at first hearing, to be incorrect by its exploiting multiple shades of meaning in a single word or phrase.

"Here Thou, great Anna! whom three Realms obey, / Dost sometimes Counsel take – and sometimes Tea." (Alexander Pope, The Rape of the Lock, Canto III)[12][13]

"Miss Bolo [...] went straight home, in a flood of tears and a sedan-chair." (Charles Dickens, The Pickwick Papers, Chapter 35)[12]

"They sought it with thimbles, they sought it with care; / They pursued it with forks and hope." (Lewis Carroll, "The Hunting of the Snark")

"And he said as he hastened to put out the cat, the wine, his cigar, and the lamps... She lowered her standards by raising her glass, her courage, her eyes and his hopes... When he asked 'What in heaven?' she made no reply, up her mind, and a dash for the door." (Flanders and Swann, "Have Some Madeira M'Dear")[7][14]

"They covered themselves with dust and glory." (Mark Twain, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer).[7]

"He watches afternoon repeats and the food he eats." (Blur, "Country House")

"You held your breath and the door for me." (Alanis Morissette, "Head Over Feet")

"I took the podium and my second trophy of the evening." (Samuel R. Delany, "Racism and Science Fiction")[15]

"My blood sugar fell dramatically and so did I." (Elaine Stritch, "Elaine Stritch at Liberty")

"Quand les Français à tête folle / S'en allèrent dans l'Italie, / Ils gagnèrent à l'étourdie / Et Gênes et Naples et la Vérole." (Voltaire)[16][17]<br>"When the scatterbrained French / Off to Italy went, / They gained in their foolishness / Genoa, Naples and the pox."

When the meaning of a verb varies for the nouns following it, there is a standard order for the nouns: the noun first takes the most prototypical or literal meaning of the verb and is followed by the noun or nouns taking the less prototypical or more figurative verb meanings.[18]

"The boy swallowed milk and kisses," as contrasted with "The boy swallowed kisses and milk".[18]

The opposite process, in which the first noun expresses a figurative meaning and the second a more literal meaning, tends to create a comic effect: "and she feeds me love and tenderness and macaroons." (The...