Paronomasia: A Rhetorical Device

Paronomasia: Etymology, Literal and Conceptual Meanings

Etymology/Term:

The term “paronomasia” derives from the Greek words “para,” meaning “beside,” and “onomasia,” meaning “naming.” It refers to a figure of speech that involves the play on words or the use of words with similar sounds but different meanings. Paronomasia is commonly associated with puns and is employed for humorous, rhetorical, or poetic effects in language.

Meanings and Concept:

• Wordplay: Paronomasia involves the deliberate use of words that sound similar but may have different meanings, allowing for a play on the double entendre.
• Humor: Often used for comedic effect, paronomasia relies on the ambiguity or dual interpretation of words to create humor or wit.
• Rhetorical Device: In rhetoric, paronomasia serves as a persuasive tool, capturing the audience’s attention through clever language manipulation.
• Poetic Expression: Poets frequently employ paronomasia to enhance the aesthetic quality of their work, introducing linguistic complexity and creating layers of meaning.
• Ambiguity: Paronomasia introduces ambiguity by exploiting the phonetic similarities of words, leading to a nuanced and sometimes humorous interpretation.

Paronomasia, with its linguistic dexterity, adds depth to communication, making it a versatile and engaging tool across various forms of expression.

Paronomasia: Definition as a Rhetorical Device

Paronomasia is a rhetorical device that involves a clever play on words, using terms with similar sounds but different meanings to create ambiguity or humor. This figure of speech relies on the phonetic resemblance of words, allowing for a deliberate and often witty manipulation of language. In rhetoric, paronomasia is employed to capture attention, enhance persuasion, and infuse speeches or written works with linguistic nuance.

Paronomasia: Examples in Everyday Life

Type	Explanation	Examples
Homophonic Paronomasia	Involves words that sound the same but have different meanings.	1. “I used to be a baker because I kneaded dough.”
		2. “The knight knew it was a capital idea.”
Homographic Paronomasia	Relies on words that are spelled alike but have different meanings.	1. “The bass was low, but he caught a big bass.”
		2. “She will tear the paper with a tear in her eye.”
Heteronymic Paronomasia	Uses words that look and sound similar but have distinct meanings.	1. “The wind was strong enough to wind the sail.”
		2. “I will not desert you in the desert.”

This table provides a clear breakdown of the types of paronomasia along with explanations and examples for each type.

Paronomasia in Literature: Shakespearean Examples

1. Play: Hamlet
   • Quote: “Not so, my lord. I am too much in the sun.”
   • Explanation: In Hamlet, Shakespeare uses paronomasia to create a play on words with “sun” and “son.” Hamlet cleverly responds to Polonius’s question about what he is reading by making a pun on “son,” alluding to his own position as the prince.
2. Play: Much Ado About Nothing
   • Quote: “I do much wonder that one man, seeing how much another man is a fool when he dedicates his behaviours to love, will, after he hath laughed at such shallow follies in others, become the argument of his own scorn by failing in love.”
   • Explanation: This quote from Much Ado About Nothing showcases Shakespeare’s use of paronomasia, playing on the multiple meanings of “fool” and “falling in love.”
3. Play: Macbeth
   • Quote: “Fair is foul, and foul is fair.”
   • Explanation: In Macbeth, this line is spoken by the three witches and serves as a paradoxical statement that plays with the concepts of fairness and foulness, creating a sense of ambiguity and setting the tone for the supernatural elements in the play.
4. Play: Romeo and Juliet
   • Quote: “Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man.”
   • Explanation: Mercutio uses paronomasia with the word “grave,” playing on its double meaning as both serious and a burial site. This adds a touch of humor to his character, even in the face of mortality.
5. Play: As You Like It
   • Quote: “But shall I go mourn for that, my dear? The pale moon shines by night; And when I wander here and there, I then do go most right.”
   • Explanation: In this quote, Shakespeare uses paronomasia with “right” and “write.” The wordplay adds a whimsical touch to the character’s musings on the moon and wandering.

These examples illustrate Shakespeare’s skillful use of paronomasia to enhance the language, create wit, and add depth to his characters and themes in various plays.

Paronomasia in Literature: Examples

1. Poem: “Fleas” by Ogden Nash
   • Quote: “Adam / Had ’em.”
   • Explanation: Nash employs paronomasia by playing on the sound of “Adam” and “had ’em,” creating a humorous twist in this short poem.
2. Novel: “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen
   • Quote: “She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me.”
   • Explanation: Mr. Darcy uses paronomasia with “handsome” to express his opinion of Elizabeth Bennet, showcasing the subtleties of language in Austen’s novel.
3. Story: “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe
   • Quote: “In pace requiescat!”
   • Explanation: The Latin phrase “In pace requiescat” translates to “Rest in peace.” Poe uses paronomasia by incorporating the sound of “rest” and “in pace” to add a chilling effect to the story’s conclusion.
4. Poem: “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost
   • Quote: “I doubted if I should ever come back.”
   • Explanation: Frost uses paronomasia with “doubted” to imply both uncertainty and suspicion, contributing to the poem’s theme of choices and regrets.
5. Novel: “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee
   • Quote: “People generally see what they look for, and hear what they listen for.”
   • Explanation: Lee employs paronomasia with “look for” and “listen for” to convey the idea that perception is often influenced by preconceived notions.
6. Poem: “A Dream Within A Dream” by Edgar Allan Poe
   • Quote: “All that we see or seem / Is but a dream within a dream.”
   • Explanation: Poe uses paronomasia with “seem” and “dream” to explore the elusive nature of reality and existence.
7. Story: “The Importance of Being Earnest” by Oscar Wilde
   • Quote: “I hope you have not been leading a double life, pretending to be wicked and being really good all the time.”
   • Explanation: Wilde employs paronomasia with “wicked” and “good” to highlight the comedic elements of the play and the characters’ dual identities.
8. Novel: “One Hundred Years of Solitude” by Gabriel García Márquez
   • Quote: “Macondo was already a fearful whirlwind of dust and rubble being spun about by the wrath of the biblical hurricane.”
   • Explanation: García Márquez uses paronomasia with “whirlwind” and “hurricane” to evoke a sense of chaos and emphasize the novel’s magical realism.
9. Poem: “Sonnet 18” by William Shakespeare
   • Quote: “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?”
   • Explanation: Shakespeare uses paronomasia with “compare” and “summer” to initiate a comparison that runs throughout the sonnet.
10. Story: “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger
    • Quote: “I was surrounded by phonies.”
    • Explanation: Holden Caulfield employs paronomasia with “phonies” to express his disdain for inauthentic people in Salinger’s classic novel.

Paronomasia in Literature: Relevance in Literary Theories

Literary Theory	Relevance of Paronomasia	Example(s)
Structuralism	Illustrates the play of language, emphasizing the signifier’s role.	In “Fleas” by Ogden Nash, the sound play in “Adam / Had ’em.”
Poststructuralism	Deconstructs fixed meanings, showcasing language’s fluidity.	In “The Cask of Amontillado” by Poe, the play on “in pace” and “rest.”
Psychoanalytic Criticism	Reveals subconscious layers through the ambiguity of wordplay.	In “The Road Not Taken” by Frost, the dual meaning of “doubted.”
Feminist Criticism	Challenges language norms, questioning gendered connotations.	In “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Lee, examining perception biases.
Marxist Criticism	Explores power dynamics, using language as a tool for manipulation.	In “The Importance of Being Earnest” by Wilde, dual identities.
Reader-Response Criticism	Engages readers through linguistic play, prompting interpretation.	In “Sonnet 18” by Shakespeare, initiating a comparative thread.
Postcolonial Criticism	Questions colonial language, embracing linguistic diversity.	In “One Hundred Years of Solitude” by Márquez, magical realism.

Paronomasia in Literature: Relevant Terms

Term	Definition
Paronomasia	A play on words involving similar-sounding yet different meanings.
Pun	A form of paronomasia, often humorous, using words with multiple meanings.
Homophony	The use of words that sound alike but may have different meanings.
Wordplay	Playful and creative use of language, including paronomasia.
Double Entendre	A phrase with a double meaning, often one of which is risqué or humorous.
Calembour	A type of pun or play on words, often used in French literature.
Malapropism	The misuse of a word in place of a similar-sounding one, often for comedic effect.
Syllepsis	A figure of speech where a word applies to two others in different senses.
Tomfoolery	Foolish behavior or language, sometimes involving playful paronomasia.
Jest	A playful or humorous remark, often incorporating wordplay.

Paronomasia in Literature: Suggested Readings

1. Freud, Sigmund. The Psychopathology of Everyday Life. Translated by A. A. Brill, Macmillan, 1914.
2. Joyce, James. Ulysses. Random House, 1922.
3. Nabokov, Vladimir. Pale Fire. Vintage, 1962.
4. Parker, Dorothy. Complete Stories. Penguin Classics, 1995.
5. Shakespeare, William. The Comedy of Errors. Edited by Stanley Wells, Oxford UP, 2008.
6. Wilde, Oscar. The Importance of Being Earnest. Dover Publications, 1990.
7. Carroll, Lewis. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Norton, 2001.
8. Atwood, Margaret. The Handmaid’s Tale. Anchor Books, 1998.
9. Eco, Umberto. The Name of the Rose. Harvest Books, 1994.
10. Chaucer, Geoffrey. The Canterbury Tales. Norton Critical Edition, 2005.