Don’t you just love how when you are in grade eight and you write something like: I went to the store and brought milk and egg and cheese—and your told it is incorrect?

We are giving all kinds of literary devices and at first you can’t find usage for them. Unless you are a writer, you probably would never remember them, or you’ll use them but won’t know the term and the reason why you used it.

To make your writing more exciting and create more diversity, use asyndeton and polysyndeton. They’re usually used to create a dramatic effect.

Asyndeton is a list of words or phrases or clauses which does NOT use conjunctions, often resulting in a hurried rhythm or vehement effect.

 Examples:

 My heart breaks into two every time I meet his smile, his touch, his laugh, his love. (Me)

 Her lips, her hair, her eyes, her skin drew gentle sighs from her lover’s heart. (English Teacher)

 This is the villain among you who deceived you, who cheated you, who meant to betray you completely. (Aristotle)

 Polysyndeton, on the other hand is used to create a slow, empathic rhythm. This device stresses equally each member in a series/ the items in the series are joined by a coordinator, such as and, but, or, nor, for, so.

 Examples:

On the other side of the moon lies menacing shadows of demonic creatures and standing in opposition with the sun, the moon sulks and calls with beady lushes and its hungry glares and luminous eyes shine with mischief as it beckons that hidden glimpse of debauchery inside all of us. (Me)

 She then got up from the table and went to the telephone and looked the number up and called the school and got the drama teacher and identified herself and told him that her daughter wouldn’t be coming to school that night. (The Rake)

Reading the same structure or style of writing can become—well quit boring after awhile. I am currently taking an English class and I forgot how much I used to love learning different literary devices. Can’t say that I know how to put everything together or remember which tense I started with 100%, but without a qualm I know and love my literary devices.

I decided to post some of them—just as a reminder to everyone who forgotten that writing can be fun and creative and educational. Now you’ll be taking my English class with me. Also, hopefully by posting some of my essay, I’ll get a good review. , I’m counting you JPD to make sure I get an A, A+ if you’re very good.

Let’s start with allusion. Allusion is when you make a reference to a well-known person, place, or thing from literature, history, etc. Someone in my class asked rather allusion can be used wrong or abused?

Of course! I have seen allusion used in the wrong content. You use allusion for your audience. If your audience is the general public, then making reference to something like Cinderella or Snow White, most of us (99.9%) will know what you are talking about. But if you are making a reference to someone like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, unless you are writing an article about sport and your audiences are basketball lovers, then most (60% or higher) of your audience will be lost.

Just like using informal or formal language, allusion has its place and time. When you use it, use it wisely.

e.g. You’re not Dorothy and Toto walking on the yellow brick road.

e.g. I am telling you, women, it all started in the Eden.