THE ROLE OF ASYNDETON IN BUILDING SUSPENSE, CONTROLLING NARRATIVE PACING, AND ENHANCING READER ENGAGEMENT: A STYLISTIC ANALYSIS OF DAPHNE DU MAURIER'S REBECCA

Abstract

This study investigates the stylistic functions of asyndeton in Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca, a suspenseful novel. It stylistically examines asyndeton on the level of building suspense, controlling narrative pacing, and enhancing reader engagement in the novel. Asyndeton, the deliberate omission of conjunctions, creates punchy prose that builds suspense, manipulates the narrative pacing, and engages readers psychologically. For this research study, the data was collected from the novel Rebecca. Multiple excerpts of asyndeton were taken through a close reading of the novel and stylistically examined its functions by following Leech and Short’s comprehensive stylistic framework as outlined in Style in Fiction (2007). The findings of the study reveal that asyndeton as a stylistic device is purposefully used by Daphne du Maurier in her novel Rebecca. It shows that use of asyndeton builds a higher level of tension by creating a sense of dislocation and discomfort. It speeds up the narrative pacing when the story demands quick action, and slows it down when portraying characters' internal conflicts across different scenes. Moreover, the asyndeton forces readers to interpret layered descriptions, fostering deeper mental engagement. This research study shows common yet significant functions of asyndeton, including tension enhancement, narrative fluidity, and the induction of more active reading. By addressing a relatively neglected aspect of Rebecca, this study contributes new insights that broaden the existing literature on the significance of stylistic devices across texts.