Omission & Flow
Asyndeton
Omitting the conjunctions normally used in a series: “I came, I saw, I conquered,” without “and.” The shorter sequence can quicken the pace or make the items sound abrupt.
"…and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish." — Lincoln (phrases without 'and')
Don't confuse it with Polysyndeton, Brachylogia. Polysyndeton is its mirror — conjunctions multiplied rather than deleted. Brachylogia is asyndeton between single words.
A similar example that does not qualify
We packed ropes and lamps.
The two items are connected by the expected conjunction. There is no omitted list conjunction here.
Counterexample written for practice.
Compare sentences using Asyndeton →Examples
We packed blankets, medicines, maps, food.
The list omits the conjunction normally placed before its last item.
I came, I listened, I left.
The three clauses are joined without a coordinating conjunction.
hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions
The six-part list omits the “and” normally expected before its final item.
A possible effect: The list connects bodily and emotional experiences to support the claim of shared humanity.
Practice explaining this example →it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness,
Successive balanced clauses are joined by commas without coordinating conjunctions.
A possible effect: The clauses accumulate contradictory descriptions without a connective that reconciles them.
Practice explaining this example →We packed ropes, lamps, maps.
The expected final conjunction is omitted from the list.
A possible effect: The bare sequence can make the inventory sound brisk and compressed.
Practice explaining this example →She checked the lock, the stove, the windows.
The final item lacks the expected “and.”
A possible effect: The compressed list can make her checks feel methodical and quick.
Practice explaining this example →Often used alongside this device
Explore devices that often appear in the same passages as asyndeton.
Anaphora 21 Litotes 14 Apposition / Appositive 12 Passive Voice 10 Metaphor 10 Synecdoche 9 Isocolon 9 Parataxis 9