Rhetoric, Part Three: Polysyndeton & Simile

by Jill Williamson

Here is my conclusion on rhetoric. I wrote two other posts on the subject. In case you missed them, we first talked about anaphora and amplificationrhetoric. Then we talked about asyndeton, climax, and metaphors. Rhetoric can add a lot of fun to your writing. There are so many more types of rhetoric than I covered.

Click here for a more in-depth list.

Polysyndeton is the use of conjunctions between words, phrases, or clauses. It is the opposite of asyndeton; however the effect of polysyndeton shares a feeling of multiplicity, a never ending list, and a building up with that of asyndeton.

Here are some examples:

“I said, 'Who killed him?' and he said, 'I don’t know who killed him but he’s dead all right,' and it was dark and there was water standing in the street and no lights and windows broke and boats all up in the town and trees blown down and everything all blown and I got a skiff and went out and found my boat where I had her inside Mango Key and she was all right only she was full of water.” –Ernest Hemingway, After the Storm.

I wanted to help him when he fell, but I couldn’t see, but I couldn’t hear, but I couldn’t feel.

Not only that, but for my sake, for your sake, for the sake of the others like us, and for the sake of every living creature on earth.

The sunset, like an artist’s palette, was a mix of yellow and orange and red and pink and purple and blue.

“Oh, my piglets, we are the origins of war—not history’s forces, nor the times, nor justice, nor the lack of it, nor causes, nor religions, nor ideas, nor kinds of government—not any other thing. We are the killers.” –Katherine Hepburn in The Lion in Winter.

Simile is a comparison between to unlike things that resemble each other in at least one way. A simile can use ‘like’ or ‘as’ to compare.

“He strode past Lady Tara and pulled open the door. Carmack framed the doorway like a second gate. Achan patted Carmack’s shoulder as he slipped by. 'Good man.'” –Jill Williamson, To Darkness Fled.

“Uncle Vernon sat back down, breathing like a winded rhinoceros…” –J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

After such long exposure to the direct sun, Mrs. McKennwick’s skin was wrinkled and dry, as a raisin becomes when all the life has left the grape.

Similes can also be used like adjectives:

The girl had a coconut-like smell.

Or to convey what something is not like:

She was nothing like the kind of friend a girl always dreams of having, the kind who will do anything for you and keep any secret.

Your turn! Share one of your own similes or give ploysyndeton a try.