SYNECDOCHE

FILIPINO-AMERICAN SCHOOL TOWN
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
21ST CENTURY LITERATURE

Joshua Saul
SYNECDOCHE
A synecdoche is a figure of speech which allows a part to stand for a whole or for a whole to stand for a
part. There are two key types of synecdoche: microcosm and macrocosm. Microcosm is the phrase for
synecdoche in which a smaller part signifies a larger whole. Macrocosm, on the other hand, is the phrase
for synecdoche in which a larger whole signifies a larger whole.
Part to represent whole
- It is common in our language for part of something to be used to represent the whole
For example:
- The word bread can be used to represent food in general or money (e.g. he is the
breadwinner of the; music is my bread and butter).
- The word sails often used to refer to a whole ship.
- The phrase hired hands can be used to refer to workmen.
- The word head refers to cattle.
- The word wheels refer to a vehicle.
Sentence example and explanations
- All hands on a deck (meaning: All sailors to report for duty. Hands=help)
- My mother wears the pants in the family (meaning: the person’s mother is the decision maker in
the family.)
- Friends, Romans, countrymen: Lend me your ears. (meaning: listen to the person speaking)
- Twenty sails came into the harbor. (meaning: twenty ships came into the harbor)
Another Example
- I have four mouths to feed at home. “Mouths” (parts of people) “People” (the whole)
- The strings were praised for their excellent performance. “The strings” (part of a violin) “violins”
or “violinists” (the whole)
- Check out my new wheels. “wheels” (part of a car) “car” (the whole)
- We live under the same roof. (roof which is [+part], is synecdoche which means house, which is
[+whole]. The sentence means “we now live in the same house”.
Note:
 Synecdoche has its own way to interpret

 Synecdoche only has part and whole

Johnlester Uy
Simile
- Is a figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a
different kind, used to make a description more emphatic or vivid (e.g. as brave as a
lion, crazy like a fox)
- A comparison using “like” or “as”.
A simile is figure of speech which compares, two different objects (stone to a cat, Man to a
mouse) and bring an interesting connection between the two objects being compared. A
simple example of such is the following sentence. ‘He is as dead as a doorbell’. The two
objects within this comparison is ‘He’ which can be any male. Comparing the person’s
attitude or personality to a doorbell, which just simply sits on the door or wall waiting to be
pressed and often times not working or basically “dead”
Similes arte used in literature all the time. It is used in Novels, newspaper articles, poems
and just about anything which requires reading and publishing. It is used by commentators
in football and baseball games. One such simile is “He pitches as slow as molasses.” You can
use similes to enhance your sentences and bring the imagination out in the readers. Similes
can be quite fun to use especially when writing about hilarious situations.
Example
- We bear her along like a pearl on a string.

Explanation: The bride and the pearl are unlike things. When you compare the softness
of carrying the bride to the softly carried pearl, you are using simile.
- she ran like the wind
Explanation: Running and the wind are unlike things. When you compare the speed of
running to the speed of the wind, you are using simile.
- He was as busy as a bee.
Explanation: comparing someone’s level of energy to a fast-flying bee.
- She looks as snug as bug in a rug.
Explanation: comparing someone who is very cozy to how comfortable a bug can be in a
rug
- Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get.
Explanation: comparing the uncertainty of life to the uncertainty of choosing a chocolate from a
box
- I am as blind as a bat without my glasses.
Explanation: indicating that the person cannot see any better than a bat.

SYNECDOCHE

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FILIPINO-AMERICAN SCHOOL TOWN

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

21ST CENTURY LITERATURE

Part to represent whole

Sentence example and explanations

 Synecdoche has its own way to interpret

21ST CENTURY LITERATURE

- We bear her along like a pearl on a string.

21ST CENTURY LITERATURE

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