What is synecdoche: origin of the term, meaning and examples of the use of this rhetorical figure in poetry and differences from metonymy.
Synecdoche: etymology and meaning
Synecdoche is a rhetorical figure of content that involves the replacement of a term with another closely related to it. The term “synecdoche” has etymological origins that date back to the Greek συνεκδοχή and subsequently to the Latin synecdŏche , which can be translated into Italian as “to include several things together”.
A synecdoche occurs when you use:
- the name of the part for that of the whole: they were left homeless. “Homeless” means that they were left homeless ;
- all for the part: calf for calfskin ;
- the name of the genus for that of the species: The feline reached its master. Here, the name feline, a genus of animal, indicates the cat, that is, a species;
- the species for the genus: having fleas to indicate parasites in general;
- a singular term instead of the plural or vice versa: the earth for all men ;
- the determined number for the indeterminate: a thousand greetings to indicate many greetings;
- the indeterminate number for the determinate: the book had ” countless ” reprints.
Difference with metonymy and hyperbole
Synecdoche is a rhetorical figure that is very difficult to identify because it can be confused with hyperbole: the last two examples are a case in point. Hyperbole consists in exaggerating the description of reality through the use of expressions that amplify or diminish it: “ I love it to death ”.
Furthermore, synecdoche is similar to metonymy but differs in that the latter is based on a qualitative relationship ( He has a beautiful hand for beautiful writing), while synecdoche is based on a quantitative relationship.
Synecdoche: examples
Synecdoche is widely used in both poetry and narrative for its expressive effectiveness and an example can be the passage from the sonnet In morte del Fratello Giovanni by Ugo Foscolo :
“ …And if from afar I greet my roofs … ”: roofs stands for houses (the part for the whole).
I got off giving you Montale’s arm :
“…the only true pupils , though so clouded, were yours…”: pupils stands for eyes (the particular for the general).
And again, in Pascoli ‘s Il gelsomino notturno :
“ …Under the wings the nests sleep , like eyes under the eyelashes… ”: nests stands for little birds (the whole for the part).
To the friends of Carducci ‘s Tiber Valley :
“ …And when the fatal prow of Aeneas sought your mouth through so much sea,… ”: prow stands for ship (the part for the whole).
And to give one last example of synecdoche in poetry, let’s quote a passage from Alla sera by Ugo Foscolo:
“…And when the summer clouds and the serene zephyrs court you happily ,… ”: zephyrs for winds (the species for the genus).
In Homer’s Iliad , synecdoche is present in vv. 15-16 of Book I:
“ …Chryses had come with the swift prows of the Achaeans to ransom his daughter… ”: swift prows for a fleet.
