Non-Sequitur: Using Absurdity in Writing

As a writer, you employ a wide range of tools to evoke thoughts and emotions. And sometimes, you just want to confuse the reader—for good reasons, of course.

One tool that does this is non-sequitur—the process of using illogical and bizarre statements to derail a conversation. If you’ve read or watched any comedic work, chances are you’ve actually encountered this before.

What is Non-Sequitur?

Non-sequitur is a conversational literary device where a statement is purposely illogical, has an apparent lack of meaning, and makes zero sense. It is often used for comedic effects and can be commonly found in theatrical plays and humorous writing.

Most non-sequiturs work in two parts: a logical statement which is then abruptly followed by a bizarre, almost nonsensical statement. Like so:

• They must be religious and my cat is dead.
• I love the smell of fresh-cut grass. Did you know a koala mom will feed her kid her own poop?
• She wore a white dress. It reminded me of the first time I rode a horse.

This is different from a non sequitur in logic, which is a fallacy that describes an invalid inference. Like so:

1. The ground gets wet when it rains.
2. The ground is wet.
3. Therefore, it is raining.

The term “non sequitur” is a Latin phrase that means “it doesn’t follow.”

Examples in Literature

Here are some examples of non-sequiturs found in literature.

1. Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett

Just about everything in this play is a non sequitur. 

2. Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

3. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

“What are you doing?” Yossarian asked guardedly when he entered the tent, although he saw at once.

“There’s a leak in here,” Orr said. “I’m trying to fix it.”

“Please stop it,” said Yossarian. “You’re making me nervous.”

“When I was a kid,” Orr replied, “I used to walk around all day with crab apples in my cheeks. One in each cheek.”

4. Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen

It was a spring day, the sort that gives people hope: all soft winds and delicate smells of warm earth. Suicide weather. Daisy had killed herself the week before.

Examples in Other Media

Here are more examples of non sequitur, taken from tv shows, films, and pop culture.

1. xkcd

2. “I like turtles.”

3. Jack Sparrow by The Lonely Island ft. Michael Bolton

The trio starts singing about being gangsters in the club which then cuts to Michael Bolton—who starts passionately singing about Jack Sparrow.

4. Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock’s best-man speech becomes semi-coherent and peppered with non-sequiturs as he goes on a deductive rampage about a murder about to happen…or has already occurred.

Using Non-Sequiturs

Non-sequiturs are primarily used to inject humor into your writing. The resulting confusion becomes funny because of its sheer absurdity.

Beyond comedy though, non sequiturs can be used to define a character’s persona. It can highlight a character’s idiosyncrasies, mental state, and unique viewpoint.

It’s also a way to catch your audience’s attention. The sudden change of topic or alteration of a plot gets them thinking. Am I missing something? What just happened? Did I follow this correctly?

And when they finally get over the confusion, they can simply laugh at the irrational and illogical nature of the change. This is, of course, a double-edged sword. Some of your readers might not appreciate the confusion or just find it too jarring and senseless. 

Satire gets away with this technique because it’s known for exaggeration and humor. By deviating from a logical progression, it challenges conventional thinking, offers commentary, and highlights absurdities in society.

It’s definitely harder to sell in other genres though. You need to be careful with how you use it as the flow of your story might not recover from the disruption. 

What’s your favorite example of non sequitur? Share it in the comments below!

If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:

• Tautology: When People Use Unnecessary Repetition
• Lexical Cloning: Definition and Examples
• Polysyndeton: Definition and Examples 
• The Isocolon: How Parallels Improve Your Writing