Figures of Speech Synecdoche Quiz : 15 MCQs

By Girdhari Lal Suthar

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Figures of Speech Synecdoche Quiz

Figures of Speech Synecdoche Quiz : Synecdoche is a figure of speech in which a part of something is used to represent the whole, or the whole is used to signify a part.

Some examples of synecdoche from English literature:

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1. William Shakespeare – Julius Caesar

“Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.”
Ears represent the entire audience, emphasizing their attention rather than just their physical ears.

2. John Milton – Lycidas

“The swain is not with folded hands to mourn.”
Folded hands symbolize the entire person engaged in mourning, not just their hands.

3. Samuel Taylor Coleridge – The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

“The western wave was all aflame.”
Wave is used to represent the entire sea.

4. T. S. Eliot – The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock

“I should have been a pair of ragged claws scuttling across the floors of silent seas.”
Claws represent the entire creature, reducing the individual to a mere part, symbolizing insignificance.

Differences between Synecdoche and Metonymy:

Feature Synecdoche Metonymy
Definition A figure of speech in which a part represents the whole or the whole represents a part. A figure of speech in which something is referred to by a related concept or an associated term.
Type of Relationship Part-whole or whole-part relationship. Conceptual or associative relationship.
Example 1 “All hands on deck” (hands = sailors) “The White House issued a statement” (White House = U.S. President or government)
Example 2 “Wheels” to refer to a car. “Crown” to refer to monarchy.
Focus Physical connection between the term and the object. Indirect or symbolic association between the term and the object.
Usage Often used in poetry and everyday speech to create vivid imagery. Common in journalism, politics, and literature for brevity and symbolism.

Figures of Speech Synecdoche Quiz

Welcome to your Synecdoche Quiz

1. What is synecdoche?

2. In which of the following examples is synecdoche used?

3. Which phrase is NOT an example of synecdoche?

4. In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, what does "the whole ear of Denmark" signify?

5. In Emily Dickinson’s poem I heard a Fly buzz—when I died, what does "The Eyes around—had wrung them dry" signify?

6. If someone says, "Nice wheels!" referring to a car, what literary device is being used?

7. Which of the following is NOT an example of synecdoche?

8. In The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, what does "the western wave" represent?

9. Which of the following statements is not an example of synecdoche?

10. Which statement correctly differentiates synecdoche from metonymy?

11. What is synecdoche?

12. In the phrase "new wheels," referring to a new car, "wheels" is an example of:

13. Which of the following best differentiates synecdoche from metonymy?

14. In the phrase "All hands on deck," "hands" is an example of synecdoche because:

15. In the sentence "The White House issued a statement," the term "The White House" is an example of:


Previous Quiz : Figures of Speech Irony Quiz : 15 MCQs

Girdhari Lal Suthar

Girdhari Lal Suthar is a dedicated Senior Teacher in English and the founder of Gyankundli.com. With 1.9 years of blogging experience, he shares valuable content on English Grammar, Literature, Language, and Educational updates, helping aspirants, students and teachers stay informed and prepared.

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