Non sequiturs, meaning "it does not follow," are statements or arguments that don't logically connect to the preceding ideas. They can be used for humor, to create a sense of absurdity, or to reveal a character's illogical thinking. Here are some examples from literature:
1. "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll:
* "Curiouser and curiouser!" cried Alice (she was so much surprised, that for the moment she quite forgot how to speak good English)." Alice's statement about being "curiouser" is nonsensical, as "curious" is already the comparative form. This highlights the surreal and illogical nature of Wonderland.
* "The Hatter's Mad Tea-Party" - The entire tea party is a non sequitur, with nonsensical conversations and illogical actions. For example, the Mad Hatter's riddles and the March Hare's sudden outburst are all examples of unconnected and illogical statements.
2. "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller:
* "There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that a concern for one's own safety in the face of dangers that were real and immediate was the process of a rational mind." This is a classic example of a non sequitur, as the statement contradicts itself. It uses circular logic to create an absurd situation, highlighting the pointlessness of war and the irrationality of bureaucracy.
3. "The Importance of Being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde:
* "To lose one parent, Mr. Worthing, may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both seems like carelessness." This is a humorous non sequitur, playing on the absurdity of the situation and Wilde's wit.
4. "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain:
* "He was a powerful man, and could carry anything. But he couldn't carry a joke." This example shows how a non sequitur can be used to create a humorous effect. It juxtaposes the man's physical strength with his inability to comprehend humor.
5. "Ulysses" by James Joyce:
* "The book is like a vast, complex tapestry, woven with threads of consciousness, memory, and language." Joyce's novel is known for its stream-of-consciousness style and its rich tapestry of words and ideas. While it's not a clear-cut non sequitur, it does contain moments where thoughts and phrases seem disconnected, reflecting the fluidity of human consciousness.
6. "The Master and Margarita" by Mikhail Bulgakov:
* "He's a good man, but he drinks." This statement, often attributed to Pontius Pilate, is an example of a non sequitur that creates an ambiguous and ironic effect. The statement seems to dismiss Pilate's character, even though the rest of the novel portrays him as a complex and conflicted figure.
These examples demonstrate how non sequiturs can be used in various ways in literature, from creating humor to highlighting absurdity, to revealing characters' internal logic or the illogical nature of situations. They often serve to engage the reader and invite them to question the meaning of the text and the world around them.