Parataxis, or the paratactic literary style, involves placing independent clauses or phrases next to each other without the use of subordinating or coordinating conjunctions. In Alice Walker's short story "Roselily," part of In Love and Trouble, she writes, "She dreams of ropes, chains, handcuffs, his religion. His place of worship. Where she will be required to sit with covered head" (page 4). Walker does not use conjunctions between the phrases; instead, they are placed loosely next to each other. Another example from "Roselily" is "She thinks of the air, the smoke, the cinders. Imagines cinders big as hailstones; heavy, weighing on the people" (page 5). Again, these clauses and ideas are placed loosely together without any coordinating or subjugating conjunctions. In paratactic writing, each clause has the same weight, as none are subjugated to others. This makes each thought in the writing important, as the ideas do not flow neatly together. It is used to provide pause and weight to each thought. For example, in the sentences above, the reader can concentrate on each word—such as "cinders," "hailstones," and "heavy," without having any of these words subjugated to the others.
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