Figures of Speech Based on Association or Substitution

Figures of Speech Based on Association or Substitution can be divided into Metonymy and Synedoche.

Metonymy

Metonymy is a figure in which a thing is spoken of not by its own name, but by the name of some conspicious accompaniment.

Examples of Metonymy:

-Please addresses the chair.

-From the cradle to the grave, life is a struggle.

Metonymy, in fact, means ‘a chance of name’ and thus it has the following varieties:

a. The sign for the person or thing symbolized

-You must addresses the chair.

-From the craddle to the grave, life is a struggle.

-The case was heard by the full bench.

-He contrived to lower the prestige of the crown.

b. The instrument for the agent

-The pen is mightier than the sword.

-The smooth tongue wins favour.

-Sceptre and crown must tumble down.

-He set up parliaments by the stroke of his pen.

c. The container for the thing contained

-The conquerers smote the city.

-My purse is exhausted.

-The whole city went out to see the victorious general.

-She was fond of dress and had an extensive wardrobe.

d. An effect for a cause or a cause for an effect

-Swiftly flies the feathered death.

-We rested beneath the shade.

-The bright death quivered at the captive’s throat.

-May a favourable speed ruffle the mirrored mast of the ship.

e. The author for his works

-We have read Milton.

-He has never read Homer.

-Let us study Shakespheare.

-We are having a test on Dickens.

f. The name of a feeling or passion for its objects

-He is our pride.

-Chemistry is my aversion.

-You are the hope of my family.

-He is the delight of the village.

Synecdoche

Synedoche is a figure by which one noun is changed for another of a similar meaning.

Examples of Synecdoche:

-All hands to the well.

-Give us our daily bread.

In other words, Synecdoche means the understanding of one thing by means of another:

a. Part for the whole

-All hands to the pump.

-Give us this day our daily bread.

-Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.

-No useless coffin enclosed his breast.

b. Whole for the part

-Give the message to every creature.

-The lavish moisture of the melting year. (summer)

-Thine the full harvest of the golden year. (autumn)

-The vessel anchored in the harbour.

c. An individual substituted for a class.

-He is the Newton of the century.

-Helen of troy was the venus of the greek world.

-Wake the purple year. (spring)

-A Solomon is coming to judgement.

d. Concrete for Abstract

-There is a mixture of the tiger and the ape in the character of that man.

-Seeing him sorrowing, all the mother rose in her heart.

-His breast with all sage, the hero and the patriot burned.

-I do the most that friendship can; I hate the viceroy, love the man

e. Abstract for Concrete

-All the rank and fashion came out to see the sight.

-The authorities put an end to the tumult.

-Youth is thoughtless.

-Her ladyship is out of town.

f. Material for the thing made

-The marble speaks.

-God and silver have I none.

-He was buried under this stone.

-He gave the man a few coppers to get rid of him.