Asyndeton is when the
writer or speaker omits the conjunctions in a series or list.For example, a normal list might
read: I like red, blue, and yellow.If I wanted
to use asyndeton, I would change this list to read: I like red, blue,
yellow.Typically, this adds emphasis to the items in the series or list, creating a
"snowball" sort of effect where they seem to accumulate power.Edwards employs
asyndeton when he describes those nonbelievers in Christ's mercy:
The wrath of God burns against them, their damnation does not slumber; the pit is
prepared, the fire is made ready, the furnace is now hot, ready to receive them [...].
There is no conjunction, such as and, before
the final item in this series, and so this stands as an example of asyndeton.The following
sentence contains another example:
[...] it is plain and
manifest, that whatever pains a natural man takes in religion, whatever prayers he makes, till
he believes in Christ, God is under no manner of obligation to keep him a moment from eternal
destruction.
Again, there are no conjunctions between
items in this series (which are separated by commas only), and so this is an example of
asyndeton.
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