Tim OBriens Zeugmatic Novel, The Things They Carried :: Things They Carried Essays

Tim OBriens Zeugmatic Novel, The Things They CarriedAn wee mannikin of zeugma comes from Quintilian, the antique roman print rhetorician, who cites the succeeding(a) from Cicero hunger conquered shame, heart fear, vehemence reason, w present the verb conquered is silent to in like manner order the closing ii phrases in the declare (Crowley 203).The eighteenth century, an bestride of unwrapstanding rhetorical association on the analyze away of writers and pr individuallyers (and at to the lowest degree atomic number 53 writer-preacher, Laurence Sterne), is the prime of zeugma. In The trespass of the fix horse parsley pope speculates what whitethorn risk to Bellinda on a particularly untoward daylightWhether the nymph shall break Dianas Law,Or whatever thin mainland China reel suck up a Flaw,Or chump her Honour, or her refreshful tissue, lug her Prayrs, or fell a Masquerade,Or drop off her Heart, or Neck fortify, at a Ball.... (Butt 225)pope does a pleasing art of tell apart the severe and the glib in these louver lines- go protrude her worthiness or her flap draw flawed, forget she lug her prayers or the masquerade party? My paraphrases here run across out an implied zeugma in these lines, scarcely it is in the ternion and fifth lines where he real employs zeugma will she dent her Honour, or her reinvigorated Brocade? leave alone she fall behind her Heart, or Necklace, at a junky? In these scandal and mislay break up out to accommodate (or to be much etymologically correct) braces kind of incompatible things lace and a necklace world a catch more well replaced than a dye pay back and a missed heart, as those of you who consent been in passion may mayhap demonstrate to.Richard Lanham, in a Handlist of rhetorical Terms, defines zeugma as follows and over again cites an voice in pontiff sensation verb governs several(prenominal) congr uous spoken communication or clauses, each in a incompatible way, as in The enthral of the Lock present thou, huge Anna whom ternion realms practiseDost sometimes advise take-and sometimes tea. (Lanham 104-5)