A Thousand Ships

How does the author use polysyndeton in the novel, A Thousand Ships?

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In keeping with the tradition of Greek mythology and the epic poem, there are also moments of deep aesthetic value in the novel. Haynes is able to paint peculiar pictures for the reader that stand out against the general madness of the conflict, such as the last things Creusa sees before she dies: “the fire and the birds and the night made day” (29). Haynes’ use of polysyndeton gives the words a rhythm that contributes to the aesthetic value of the phrase and reflects the strange beauty of the image Creusa is witnessing. And yet the author does not do this for its own sake, but rather to emphasise the tragedy of Creusa’s death amid such horrific circumstances as the sack of Troy.

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