Which excerpt is an example of metonymy?
a. “since number five is out of the bathroom now,”
b. “we think of lukewarm water and hope to get in it.”
c. “i shall be telling this with a sigh somewhere ages and ages hence”
d. “i watch you wrapped up like garbage”

The excerpt which is an example of metonymy is A, “Since Number Five is out of the bathroom now,”. “Number Five” refers to someone with a higher position or authority than others.  

EXPLANATION:  

If the answer to that question is “Since Number Five is out of the bathroom,” so, what is metonymy? Metonymy is a literary device. It is a figure of speech that replaces or changes the term of things with the term of something else. Those two terms of things have to be similar or associated. For example is “Number Five” which is associated with “person with high authority or position.” “Number Five” is the metonymy of “person with high authority or position.”

Thus, how can we know that it is metonymy? How can we differentiate it from synecdoche? Synecdoche and metonymy are almost the same. Synecdoche is also a figure of speech that replaces the name of a thing with another name, yet, it is part of it. For example, we call “a car” as “a wheel.” it is a synecdoche because “wheel” is part of a car. Yet, metonymy is different. It replaces the name of a thing with another name which is not part of it. For example, we call “a power” as “a crown”. Crown is not part of power. Yet, it can be used to address power.  

Here are examples of metonymy in literature:

1. An excerpt from Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, which is said by Mark Anthony.  

“Friends, Romans, and countrymen, lend me your ears.”  

The word “ears” said Mark Anthony is the replacement of “attention”. It is a metonymy  

2. An excerpt from Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell said by Scarlett.  

“I’m mighty glad Georgia waited till after Christmas before it secedes……”

 “Georgia” is the replacement of everything in Georgia, including its citizens, government, and politicians.  

LEARN MORE:  

If you’re interested in learning more about this topic, we recommend you to also take a look at the following questions:

1. Another word for foreshadowing is?  

KEYWORDS: Metonymy, example of metonymy, what is metonymy

Subject: English

Class: 10-12

Sub-chapter:  Metonymy

the answer is c. the wind