Synecdoche

Etymology and Meanings of Synecdoche

The term “synecdoche” is a derivative of Greek word “synekdoche” meaning “simultaneous understanding.” It is a combination of two words: “syn” meaning “together” and “ekdoche” meaning “interpretation.” The term entered English in the late 16th century to describe a figure of speech in which a part is used to represent the whole, or the whole is used to represent a part.

Synecdoche means a part of something is used to represent the whole, or doing the opposite. It is a literary device used to add layers of meaning to a text or speech by drawing attention to specific parts or elements of a larger concept or object. By using a synecdoche, writers and speakers can make their language more vivid, memorable, and effective in conveying their message. Examples of synecdoche include using “wheels” to refer to a car or “the Crown” to refer to the monarch of a country.

Synecdoche in Grammar

Grammatically, synecdoche is a singular noun with plural verb agreement. For example, we would say “Synecdoche is a literary device” rather than “Synecdoche are a literary device.” This is because “synecdoche” is a singular noun, even though it represents a figure of speech that involves substituting a part for the whole or vice versa. The verb used to describe “synecdoche” must agree with its singular form, just like any other singular noun.

Definition of Synecdoche

Synecdoche is a literary device that involves using a part of something to represent the whole or using the whole to represent a part. It is a type of metonymy, which is a broader term for the use of one term to stand in for another. In literature, synecdoche is often used to create vivid and memorable imagery, as well as to convey deeper meanings and themes.

Types of Synecdoche

There are several types of synecdoche used in literature and other forms of writing. Here are some examples:

1. Part-for-whole: This type of synecdoche uses a part of something to refer to the whole thing. For example, “nice wheels” to refer to a car or “he’s got a new set of threads” to refer to a new outfit.
2. Whole-for-part: This type of synecdoche uses the whole to refer to a part of something. For example, “The White House announced today” to refer to the President or “All hands on deck” to refer to the entire crew of a ship.
3. Material-for-object: This type of synecdoche uses a material to refer to the object made from it. For example, “silver” to refer to cutlery or “bricks and mortar” to refer to a building.
4. Object-for-owner: This type of synecdoche uses an object to refer to its owner. For example, “check out his new ride” to refer to someone’s new car or “she’s got a new set of wheels” to refer to someone’s new bike.
5. Container-for-contents: This type of synecdoche uses a container to refer to its contents. For example, “the pot is boiling” to refer to the contents of the pot or “the bottle is empty” to refer to the liquid that was in the bottle.

Common Examples of Synecdoche

Here are some common examples of synecdoche in everyday language:

1. “Lend me a hand” – This uses the part “hand” to represent the whole person, who is being asked for help.
2. “Nice wheels” – This uses the part “wheels” to represent the whole car, which is being complimented.
3. “The pen is mightier than the sword” – This uses the part “pen” to represent writing or literature, which is being compared to the whole concept of violence and warfare, represented by the word “sword.”
4. “Cleveland won by six runs” – This uses the city “Cleveland” to represent the baseball team from that city, who won the game.
5. “The suits on Wall Street” – This uses the clothing item “suits” to represent the entire group of people who work in finance and business in New York City’s financial district, known as “Wall Street.”
6. “He’s a new face around here” – This uses the part “face” to represent the whole person, who is new to the area or organization.

Literary Examples of Synecdoche

From To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee:

1. Extract: “Maycomb County had recently been told that it had nothing to fear but fear itself.” Explanation: This line uses the synecdoche of “Maycomb County” to refer to the people who live there. The fear that the people are being told they have nothing to fear is not just a fear of the physical place, but a fear of the people and events that occur within it.

From The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald:

2. Extract: “I’m going to make a big request of you today,” he said, turning to us. “So I thought you ought to know something about me. I didn’t want you to think I was just some nobody.” Explanation: In this sentence, Gatsby uses the synecdoche of “nobody” to refer to his low social status. By referring to himself as a “nobody,” Gatsby is highlighting his lack of importance in society.

From Hamlet by William Shakespeare:

3. Extract: “The body is with the king, but the king is not with the body. The king is a thing–” Explanation: In this line, Hamlet is using the synecdoche of “the king” to refer to the physical body of the king, rather than the person himself. By separating the king’s body from his identity, Hamlet emphasizes the idea of mortality and the separation of the physical body from the soul.

From “Song of Myself” by Walt Whitman:

4. Extract: “I loaf and invite my soul, / I lean and loaf at my ease observing a spear of summer grass.”

Explanation: In this sentence, Whitman uses the synecdoche of “a spear of summer grass” to represent the entire natural world. The image of the grass spear represents the interconnectedness of all things in nature.

From “The Waste Land” by T.S. Eliot:

5. Extract: “These fragments I have shored against my ruins.”

Explanation: In this line, Eliot uses the synecdoche of “fragments” to represent the memories and experiences that make up a person’s life. By using this synecdoche, Eliot emphasizes the idea that even when a person’s life seems to be in ruins, they can still cling to their memories and experiences as a way of rebuilding themselves.

How to Create Synecdoche in a Fictional Work

To create and use synecdoche in your writing, follow these steps:

1. Identify the whole and the part: Choose a whole concept or object that you want to represent, and then identify a smaller part of it that can stand in for the whole.
2. Use the part to represent the whole: Use the smaller part to represent the whole concept or object throughout your writing. You can use this in various ways, such as in descriptions, dialogue, or metaphors.
3. Make sure the context is clear: Ensure that the reader understands the context in which you are using the synecdoche. If the context is unclear, your meaning may be lost.
4. Be creative: Synecdoche can be a powerful tool in creating memorable and vivid writing. Don’t be afraid to experiment with unusual or unexpected ways of using it.

Example: Instead of saying “the entire city was in a state of panic,” you could write “every heart in the city raced with fear.” In this sentence, “heart” represents the whole person, and the fear they are feeling. This creates a more vivid image in the reader’s mind, and makes the emotional impact of the panic more immediate and visceral.

Benefits of Synecdoche

Using synecdoche in your writing can offer several benefits, such as:

1. Creating vivid images: Synecdoche can help you create more vivid and memorable images in the reader’s mind. By using a smaller part to represent the whole concept or object, you can create a more immediate and visceral impact.
2. Adding depth to descriptions: Synecdoche can also add depth and nuance to your descriptions. By choosing a specific part to represent the whole, you can highlight certain aspects or qualities of the object or concept you’re describing.
3. Simplifying complex ideas: Synecdoche can also be used to simplify complex ideas. By using a smaller part to represent the whole, you can distill complex concepts into a more manageable and accessible form.
4. Enhancing rhetorical devices: Synecdoche can be used to enhance other rhetorical devices, such as metaphor and hyperbole. By using synecdoche within these devices, you can create even more striking and memorable writing.

Overall, using synecdoche in your writing can help you create more engaging and impactful writing, while also simplifying complex ideas and enhancing other rhetorical devices

Synecdoche and Literary Theory

Synecdoche is a common literary device used across various literary theories and approaches. Here are some examples:

1. New Criticism: In New Criticism, synecdoche is often used to analyze the way language is used to create meaning in a text. By focusing on the use of specific parts to represent the whole, New Critics analyze the nuances and complexities of a text’s language.
2. Reader-Response Criticism: Reader-Response critics examine the ways in which readers interact with a text, and how the reader’s personal experiences and beliefs shape their interpretation. Synecdoche can be used to help readers engage with a text by connecting the parts they see to the larger whole.
3. Postmodernism: In postmodern literature, synecdoche can be used to highlight the fragmented and interconnected nature of modern life. By using parts to represent the whole, postmodern authors explore the disorienting and disjointed experience of living in a complex, interconnected world.
4. Feminist Criticism: Feminist critics may use synecdoche to highlight the way women’s bodies are used to represent the whole of their gender. This can be used to critique the objectification and marginalization of women in literature and society.

In short, synecdoche is a versatile literary device that can be used across a wide range of literary theories and approaches to create meaning and deepen analysis.

Suggested Readings

Culler, Jonathan. Literary Theory: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford UP, 2011.

Genette, Gerard. Figures of Literary Discourse. Columbia UP, 1982.

Lanham, Richard A. A Handlist of Rhetorical Terms. 2nd ed., U of California P, 1991.

Lotman, Yuri. “2. From The Structure of the Artistic Text.” Culture and Communication. Academic Studies Press, 2020. 48-60.

Gorlée, Dinda L. “Wittgenstein’s persuasive rhetoric.” Semiotica 2016.208 (2016): 49-77.