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| {{short description|Conversational literary device}} | |||
| A '''non sequitur''' is a literary device; in comedy (as opposed to in ]), it is a comment which, due to its lack of meaning relative to the comment it follows, is absurd to the point of being humorous. Its use can be deliberate or unintentional. Literally, it is Latin for "it does not follow." In other literature, a non sequitur can denote an abrupt, illogical, unexpected or absurd turn of plot or dialogue not normally associated with or appropriate to that preceding it. | |||
| {{Distinguish|text=a ''non sequitur'' in the sense of a ]}} | |||
| {{italic title}} | |||
| A '''''non sequitur''''' ({{IPAc-en|lang|n|ɒ|n|_|ˈ|s|ɛ|k|w|ᵻ|t|ər}} {{respell|non|_|SEK|wit|ər}}, {{IPA|la-x-classic|noːn ˈsɛkᶣɪtʊr|lang|link=yes}}; " does not follow") is a conversational ], often used for ] purposes. It is something said that, because of its apparent lack of meaning relative to what preceded it,<ref>''The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English''. Oxford University Press, 2009.</ref> seems ] to the point of being ]ous or confusing. This use of the term is distinct from the '']'' in logic, where it is a ].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2014-01-02|title=Non Sequitur - Examples and Definition of Non Sequitur|url=https://literarydevices.net/non-sequitur/|access-date=2021-08-31|website=Literary Devices|language=en-US}}</ref> | |||
| ==Etymology== | |||
| Non sequiturs often appear to be disconnected or random comments, or random changes in subject, especially socially inappropriate ones. | |||
| The expression is ] for " does not follow".<ref>Merriam Webster's Online Dictionary. http://mw1.m-w.com/dictionary/non%20sequitur {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218101007/http://mw1.m-w.com/dictionary/non%20sequitur |date=2012-02-18 }}</ref> It comes from the words ''non'' meaning "not" and the verb ''sequi'' meaning "to follow".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Definition of NON SEQUITUR|url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/non+sequitur|access-date=2021-08-31|website=www.merriam-webster.com|language=en}}</ref> | |||
| ==Usage== | |||
| Examples of works which make heavy use of this device to humorous effect are the comic strips '']'' and '']'', the radio show '']'', the television series '']'', the cartoons '']'' and '']'', a string of shows on ] such as ] and ], the novels of ], the comedy of ], the absurdist stories of underground Russian author ], the music of ] and ], and the character ] from ]. | |||
| A ''non sequitur'' can denote an abrupt, illogical, or unexpected turn in plot or dialogue by including a relatively inappropriate change in manner. A ''non sequitur'' joke sincerely has no explanation, but it reflects the idiosyncrasies, mental frames and alternative world of the particular comic ].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Chambers |first1=Robert |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ThJJP4b21DwC&pg=PA75 |title=Parody: The Art that Plays with Art |publisher=Peter Lang Publishers |year=2010 |page=75 |isbn= 978-1433108693 |access-date=2014-09-17 |quote=Along with a rhythmic pattern, these jokes, however absurd they may be, build dual frames of reference, if not alternative worlds entirely reflecting the idiosyncrasies of the individual stand-up artist. }}</ref> | |||
| Comic artist ]'s '']'' cartoons are known for what Larson calls "absurd, almost non sequitur animal" characters, such as talking cows, to create a bizarre effect. He gives the example of a strip where "two cows in a field gaze toward burning Chicago, saying 'It seems that agent 6373 had accomplished her mission.'"<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1983/06/16/the-bizarre-side/ba464ceb-355f-4c9b-8f8d-d1b51c8f9f19/ |title=The Bizarre Side |last= Harrington|first= Richard|date=16 June 1983 |newspaper= Washington Post|access-date=12 August 2020 }}</ref> | |||
| Non sequiturs in ''Zippy the Pinhead'': | |||
| * "Let me do my tribute to fishnet stockings, are we having fun yet? Fishnet, fishnet, fishnet, fishnet." | |||
| * "Accept provolone into your life." | |||
| * "Laundry is the fifth dimension." | |||
| * "If you can't say something nice, say something surrealistic." | |||
| ==See also== | |||
| A good example of a comic non sequitur is comedian and actor ]'s line, "I'd give my right arm to be ambidexterous." | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| == References == | |||
| The non sequitur can be understood as the opposite of ]. To illustrate: in theatre, traditional comedy and drama depend on the ritualization—that is, the predictability—of human emotional experiences. In contrast, the theatre of the absurd depends upon the disjunction—that is, the unpredictability—of that experience. Predictability in its most extreme form is cliché; unpredictability, then, expresses itself most naturally as non sequitur. | |||
| {{Reflist}} | |||
| == Further reading == | |||
| * ''The Koan: Texts and Contexts in Zen Buddhism''. United Kingdom, Oxford University Press, 2000. | |||
| * Shabo, Magedah ''Rhetoric, Logic, and Argumentation: A Guide for Student Writers''. United States, Prestwick House, 2010. | |||
| ==External links== | |||
| {{Wiktionary|non sequitur}} | |||
| * - "When asked to pick the punch-line of a joke from an array of choices, including straightforward endings, non sequitur endings, and the correct punch-line, RHD patients erred by picking non sequitur endings, indicating that they know surprise is necessary" | |||
| {{DEFAULTSORT:Non sequitur}} | |||
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Latest revision as of 00:51, 24 December 2024
Conversational literary device Not to be confused with a non sequitur in the sense of a formal fallacy.A non sequitur (English: /nɒn ˈsɛkwɪtər/ non SEK-wit-ər, Classical Latin: [noːn ˈsɛkᶣɪtʊr]; " does not follow") is a conversational literary device, often used for comedic purposes. It is something said that, because of its apparent lack of meaning relative to what preceded it, seems absurd to the point of being humorous or confusing. This use of the term is distinct from the non sequitur in logic, where it is a fallacy.
Etymology
The expression is Latin for " does not follow". It comes from the words non meaning "not" and the verb sequi meaning "to follow".
Usage
A non sequitur can denote an abrupt, illogical, or unexpected turn in plot or dialogue by including a relatively inappropriate change in manner. A non sequitur joke sincerely has no explanation, but it reflects the idiosyncrasies, mental frames and alternative world of the particular comic persona.
Comic artist Gary Larson's The Far Side cartoons are known for what Larson calls "absurd, almost non sequitur animal" characters, such as talking cows, to create a bizarre effect. He gives the example of a strip where "two cows in a field gaze toward burning Chicago, saying 'It seems that agent 6373 had accomplished her mission.'"
See also
- Anacoluthon
- Anti-humor
- Dada
- Derailment (thought disorder)
- "Good day, fellow!" "Axe handle!"
- Gibberish
- Roger Irrelevant
- Surreal humour
References
- The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. Oxford University Press, 2009.
- "Non Sequitur - Examples and Definition of Non Sequitur". Literary Devices. 2014-01-02. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
- Merriam Webster's Online Dictionary. http://mw1.m-w.com/dictionary/non%20sequitur Archived 2012-02-18 at the Wayback Machine
- "Definition of NON SEQUITUR". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
- Chambers, Robert (2010). Parody: The Art that Plays with Art. Peter Lang Publishers. p. 75. ISBN 978-1433108693. Retrieved 2014-09-17.
Along with a rhythmic pattern, these jokes, however absurd they may be, build dual frames of reference, if not alternative worlds entirely reflecting the idiosyncrasies of the individual stand-up artist.
- Harrington, Richard (16 June 1983). "The Bizarre Side". Washington Post. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
Further reading
- The Koan: Texts and Contexts in Zen Buddhism. United Kingdom, Oxford University Press, 2000.
- Shabo, Magedah Rhetoric, Logic, and Argumentation: A Guide for Student Writers. United States, Prestwick House, 2010.
External links
- Getting It: Human Event-Related Brain Response to Jokes in Good and Poor Comprehenders - "When asked to pick the punch-line of a joke from an array of choices, including straightforward endings, non sequitur endings, and the correct punch-line, RHD patients erred by picking non sequitur endings, indicating that they know surprise is necessary"