Metonym

CRAFT TERM

Oct 26

Think of a metonym as a work-around device. This language choice allows the speaker to substitute a name or subject with the topic or place it’s associated with. Sometimes the word choice represents an abstract idea or larger entity as a singular subject.

Example

“Crown” for a monarchy

“Fist” to represent the people’s revolution against a government

"The Left" to represent Americans who identify with liberal politics

"The White House" referring to the executive branch of American government

"Pen" for the written word (as in, mightier than the sword)

“Ear” for attention (as in, lend me your ears)

Prompt

Create your own personal metonym! Form a list of words you would use to describe yourself then select one.

Write about your journey referring to your own personal metonym.

Resource written by:

Featured

Danielle Mitchell

is an intersectional feminist, poet, and teaching artist. She is Founding Director of The Poetry Lab and author of Makes the Daughter-in-Law Cry, winner of the Clockwise Chapbook Prize (Tebot Bach, 2017). Her poems have appeared in Hayden’s Ferry Review, Vinyl, Four Way Review, Transom, New Orleans Review, Nailed Magazine and others. Danielle has performed on stages all over Southern California including the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. She holds a B.A. in Women's and Gender Studies and Creative Writing from the University of Redlands and is an alumna of the Community of Writers. She is currently working on a manuscript of poems about misogyny and the Internet. Danielle uses she/her pronouns.

@imaginarydani | imaginarydani.com | Read More by Danielle ➡️