Emotion unbound: asyndeton and emotionality in ancient Greek and early modern English prose romance

Thesis

— asyndeton, n., from the Greek ἀσύνδετον (ἀ without + συν together + δεῖν to bind)

This thesis seeks to demonstrate that the mode of figurative speech known as asyndeton, and the related asyndetic matrix, offers a unique insight into the way emotionality is depicted in early modern English prose romances. It charts the translation of asyndeton from ancient Greek prose romances, where the figure is used at moments of heightened emotional conflict. It examines the complex process through which this translation and the figure’s adaptation into asyndetic matrices in English continues to express and evoke subjective emotional concepts, by breaking down asyndeton's propensity for 'vehemence', 'earnestness', 'special vigour', 'agitation' and even 'frenzy' into a three-step process: dissolution, amplification and union.

In so doing, the thesis examines the asyndetic natures of Achilles Tatios's Leukippe and Kleitophon and Heliodoros's Ethiopian History, John Lyly's two volumes about Euphues, Sir Philip Sidney’s Old and New Arcadias and Robert Greene’s two volumes of Mamillia. By suggesting that the development of linguistic tropes stems from emotional tropes rather than vice versa, the thesis argues that social, emotional or psychological patterns may be potently transcribed in figures of speech, rather than that figures of speech served to fashion emotionality.

Authors: Hirst-Dunton, H

• DOI: 10.5287/ora-prpbkjjey
• Type of award: MLitt
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford