Analysing language in Critical ReadingSynecdoche

What is synecdoche?

Synecdoche is a technique in which a part of something is made to represent the whole thing or the whole thing is made to represent a part.

Synecdoche means using part of something to represent the whole, eg:

• referring to a 'set of wheels' to mean a car
• referring to 'boots on the ground' to refer to soldiers in an army

It can also mean using a whole to represent a part, eg:

• referring to 'the whole world' to mean people generally or everyone in a group
• referring to 'Downing Street' to mean the Prime Minister or someone else who works for the PM

Poetry

In Norman MacCaig's poem Visiting Hour, the speaker uses synecdoche to describe himself as he visits his wife in hospital:

the hospital smell combs my nostrils as they go bobbing along.

MacCaig seems to be detaching himself from the situation by describing himself only as his nostrils. It's like he is taking in sensations without really letting himself feel or respond. The synecdoche also draws attention to his nose and his sense of smell. This suggests the overpowering smells in the hospital have blocked out his other senses.

Biblical

The Lord’s Prayer contains an example of synecdoche in the line give us this day, our daily bread. In this example, bread is used to stand for all of the necessities of life.