Non Sequitur - Academic Mode

Definition of Non Sequitur
Non Sequitur is a literary medium that contains statements, sayings and conclusions that do not follow the basic principles of logic and reason. They are often used in theater and comedy to create a comedic effect.

In fact, Non Sequitur is a Latin phrase that means "it does not follow." Here non means "not" and sequitur means "to follow". It takes place when there is a difference between the basic idea and the conclusion that ultimately leads to an error. In conversation, it is said Non Sequitur, which seems quite absurd - to the point of confusion due to the lack of proper meanings.It is sometimes viewed as a postulation, which means that the statement may not be true. For example:

Maria drives a car. She must be a rich person.
David is eating broccoli. David should love to eat the flesh of life, as in legal practice where sequitur is not regularly used in arguments. It can be broken down into the following six categories:

Not Sequitur in everyday language: “Business is business, and a cup of tea is a cup of tea.
Fallacy of the undistributed center: “All people have bones. Crocodiles have bones. That is why crocodiles are people. ”
Confirmation of the consequence:“ If Charles is right, Diana is right. As Diana is right, Charles is right.
The predecessor: “If I am Indian, then I am Asian. I am not Indian. That's why I'm not an Asian. "
Affirmation of a disjoint:" Adam is right or Eve is right. Adam is right, so Eve is not right. “
is true. Cows is not true. That is why horse is true. “
Examples of non-sequitur in literature
The best examples of non-sequitur can be observed in the theater of the absurd.

Example 1: Waiting for Godot (From Samuel Beckett)
VLADIMIR:" Consult his family ... "
ESTRAGON: (concerned) "And we?"
ESTRAGON: "And why should he scream? "
VLADIMIR:" On his horse. Silence. "
ESTRAGON: (violently)" I'm hungry! "
VLADIMIR:" Do you want a carrot ... "
VLADIMIR:" I could have some turnips ... "
VLADIMIR:" Oh, sorry! I could have sworn it was a carrot ... "
ESTRAGON: (chewing)" I asked you a question. "
VLADIMIR: "Ah."
ESTRAGON: “Did you answer? "
VLADIMIR:" How is the carrot? "
ESTRAGON:" It's a carrot. ”

Here we can clearly see the use of non sequiturs, where Estragon persistently asks a question, but Vladimir doesn't bother to answer.

Example # 2: Bald Soprano (by Eugene Ionesco)
Mrs. Smith:
"There, it's nine o'clock; we've had the soup, we've had the fish and chips, and the English salad ... That's because we live in the suburbs from London and because our name is Smith. "

Mr. Smith: (continues reading and clicks his tongue)
"Potatoes are very good, fried in fat: the salad oil was not rancid ... However, I prefer not to tell you that your oil is bad."

Mr. Smith: (continue reading and clicks his tongue)
“However, the oil from the corner grocer is the best.”

Mr. Smith: (continues reading and clicks his tongue)

In this excerpt, we can note the strong use of non sequitur, where Mrs. Smith is talking to Mr. Smith, and he doesn't answer at all because it's pretty absurd.

Function of Non Sequitur
Non sequitur occurs inadvertently due to some confusion, and sometimes even deliberately to confuse the audience, in order to point out the existing confusion in the situation or in society in general; however, it is often used to change the topic of the conversation, and to add a touch of humor by jumping to a conclusion abruptly, without following the fundamental principles of the conversation.

Similarly, as a literary device it is used in the Theater of the Absurd , and in surreal silly comedies. they are characters who give one non sequitur after another and move away, to give comic effect. Since the audience cannot predict what the next statement will be, they just laugh at it.