zeugma is not always a rhetorical device #sol18

…today's is a different kind of block, not the absence of impressions but two conflicting sets of impressions churning around, seeking but not achieving resolution, balance. Here in rural Northeast Colorado, I picked up my senior commodities box, went to the dentist for a bridge fitting, out to lunch with my daughter, got a haircut and went to a local church's Men's Pancake Supper. Elsewhere across the country and in my advocacy networks, friends and colleagues were mobilizing for tomorrow's March For Our Lives, but not in this corner of the state.

The state of mind reminds me of the literary device called zeugma from the Greek for 'yoke' -- and unlikely, even jarring joining or yoking of words.

Zeugma, from Greek meaning “yoking” or “bonding,” is a figure of speech in which a word, usually a verb or an adjective, applies to more than one noun, blending together grammatically and logically different ideas. For instance, in the sentence, “John lost his coat and his temper,” the verb “lost” applies to both the nouns “coat” and “temper.” Losing a coat and losing temper are logically and grammatically different ideas, which are brought together in this sentence. Zeugma, when used skillfully, produces a unique artistic effect, making the literary works more interesting and effective as it serves to adorn expressions, and to add emphasis to ideas in impressive style.

This yoking is less about style and artistic effect than divides.

As an aside, Zeugma is also the site of an ancient city, 2,000 years buried, and excavated mosaics in Turkey (Anatolia).

...originally...founded by Selevkos Nikador, one of the generals of the Alexander the Great, in 300 B.C. At that time the city was named after the general and called “ Selevkaya Euphrates.” And the population in the city was approximately 80 000. In 64 B.C. Zeugma was conquered and ruled by Roman Empire and with this shift the name of the city was changed into Zeugma to mean “bridge-passage.”

In a time of divides building bridges makes more sense than effect and rhetorical style.

---

Two Writing Teachers host a weekly Tuesday and an annual March Slice of Life Story Challenge (SOLSC). This is the 11th one. During March, SOLSC participants write and share daily blog posts, and comment on three or more blog posts by other participants. Read today's (March 23, 2018) blog posts here.