[RD] He Kicked the Habit and Then the Bucket

My favorite rhetorical device of all time is probably the zeugma, and no, not just because it is a cool word.  Along with having an extremely awesome name, the concept of a zeugma is an extremely hard concept to grasp, in my opinion.  A zeugma is a sentence using one verb or adjective to describe two different words or events, while only appropriately applying to one of them.  I know, this sounds really complicated, and it kind of is.  But have no fear! The solution to your current state of confusion can be solved with a plethora of entertaining examples, as follows:

• "His boat and his dreams sank"
• "Mr. Pickwick took his hat and his leave"
• "First the door locked, then his jaw"
• "The farmers in the valley grew potatoes, peanuts, and bored"
• "She looked at the object with suspicion and a magnifying glass"

Pretty fun, eh? I find that when linking the two separate objects or ideas, one of them tends to be abstract and the other is rather literal, as seen in the first, second and fourth examples above.  Of course, this isn't always the case, but the most entertaining uses of zeugma tend to use this tactic of connecting the abstract with the literal.  Zeugmas are effective because of their whimsical attitude.  Even in a serious situation, the structure of a sentence using a zeugma passes the event off as something slightly sarcastic and meaningful.  It's definitely chuckle-inducing, that's for sure.

In a less funny context, a zeugma can be used to create a strong sense of danger or intensity, as seen in the third example above.  By giving an idea the same intense description as an object, that idea is put onto a whole new level of meaning that a reader can more easily connect with.  Zeugmas cause readers to stop and question what they just read, whether they are stopping to realize the power of the sentence or to absorb the wittiness of it.