Metonymy and Synecdoche: Subtle Differences From Literary Devices.net 2014

Differences:  Synecdoche examples are often misidentified as metonymy.  Both may resemble each other to some extent, but they are not the same.  Synecdoche refers to the whole of a thing by the name of any one of its parts. For example, calling a car “wheels” is a synecdoche because a part of a car “wheels” stands for the whole car.  However, in metonymy, the word we use to describe another thing is closely linked to that particular thing, but is not necessarily a part of it. For example, “crown” that refers to power or authority is a metonymy used to replace the word “king” or “queen”.

Not a Metaphor!  Metonymy is different from a metaphor.  A metaphor draws resemblance between two different things as in “You are sunlight and I moon” – Sun And Moon from Miss Saigon. Sunlight (and moon) and human are two different things without any association but it attempts to describe one thing in terms of another based on a supposed similarity.  Metonymy, however, develops relation on the grounds of close associations as in “The White House is concerned about terrorism.” The White House here represents the people who work in it.

Metonymy in Everyday Life:  England decides to keep check on immigration. (England refers to the government.)  The pen is mightier than the sword. (Pen refers to written words and sword to military force.)  The Oval Office was busy in work. (“The Oval Office” is a metonymy as it stands for people at work in the office.)  Let me give you a hand. (Hand means help.)

Synecdoche in Everyday Life:  The phrase “gray beard” refers to an old man.  The word “sails” refers to a whole ship.  The word “boots” usually refers to soldiers.  The term “coke” is a common synecdoche for all carbonated drinks.  “Pentagon” is a synecdoche when it refers to a few decision makers.  The word “glasses” refers to spectacles.

Metonymy in Literature:  Example #1 The given lines are from Shakespeare’s “Julies Caesar” Act I.  “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.”  Mark Anthony uses “ears” to say that he wants the people present there to listen to him attentively. It is a metonymy because the word “ears” replaces the concept of attention.  Example #2 This line is from Margaret Mitchell’s novel “Gone with the Wind”.  “I’m mighty glad Georgia waited till after Christmas before it secedes or it would have ruined the Christmas parties.”  Scarlett uses “Georgia” to point out everything that makes up the state: citizens, politician, government etc. It is a metonymy extremely common in the modern world, where a name of a country or state refers to a whole nation and its government. Thus, it renders brevity to the ideas.  Example #3 These lines are taken from “Out, Out” by Robert Frost.  “As he swung toward them holding up the hand Half in appeal, but half as if to keep The life from spilling”  In these lines, the expression “The life from spilling” is a metonymy that refers to spilling of blood. It develops a link between life and blood. The loss of too much blood means loss of life.

Synecdoche in Literature:  Coleridge employs synecdoche in his poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner:  “The western wave was all a-flame. The day was well was nigh done! Almost upon the western wave Rested the broad bright Sun”  The “western wave” is a synecdoche as it refers to the sea by the name of one of its parts i.e. wave.  Example #2Observe the use of synecdoche in the following lines from The Secret Sharer by Joseph Conrad:  “At midnight I went on deck, and to my mate’s great surprise put the ship round on the other tack. His terrible whiskers flitted round me in silent criticism.”  The word “whiskers” mentioned in the above lines refers to the whole face of the narrator’s mate.  Example #3Note the use of synecdoche in The Lady or the Tiger? by Frank R. Stockton:  “His eye met hers as she sat there paler and whiter than anyone in the vast ocean of anxious faces about her.”  “Faces” refers to people (not just their faces).