Tone, Symbolism, And Effect Of Metonymy

1. Metonymy can make institutions or forces feel:

Personal and active

Distant and irrelevant

Simple and literal

Completely abstract

Metonymy gives large institutions human-like presence by representing them through familiar symbols, making them feel active and relatable.

Explanation

Metonymy gives large institutions human-like presence by representing them through familiar symbols, making them feel active and relatable.

2. “The crown bowed its head in grief.” The metonymy here emphasizes:

The human emotion of the monarchy

The physical weight of the crown

A fashion statement

A game of chess

“The crown” stands for the monarchy, allowing the institution to express human emotion.

Explanation

“The crown” stands for the monarchy, allowing the institution to express human emotion.

3. Which tone is created by “The sword slept; the pen awoke”?

Hopeful and peaceful

Angry and violent

Confused and uncertain

Humorous and light

The contrast suggests a shift from violence to communication, creating a hopeful tone.

Explanation

The contrast suggests a shift from violence to communication, creating a hopeful tone.

4. “Wall Street froze in fear.” “Wall Street” represents:

The streetlights

Financial markets and investors

Tourists

Newspapers

“Wall Street” is metonymy for financial institutions and investors, not the literal street.

Explanation

“Wall Street” is metonymy for financial institutions and investors, not the literal street.

5. Metonymy helps an author express emotion by:

Turning emotional forces into single, vivid images

Removing emotion from the text

Only adding jokes

Avoiding symbolism

By symbolizing complex emotions through concrete images, metonymy intensifies emotional impact.

Explanation

By symbolizing complex emotions through concrete images, metonymy intensifies emotional impact.

6. “The pulpit wept for the lost.” What emotional effect does this metonymy create?

A sense of spiritual sorrow

Humor

Confusion

Anger

“The pulpit” represents religious leadership, creating a tone of collective mourning.

Explanation

“The pulpit” represents religious leadership, creating a tone of collective mourning.

7. Match the example with the emotional effect

The sword slept.

The ballot box spoke.

The streets roared.

Each metonymy conveys emotion by symbolizing a larger social force or condition.

Explanation

Each metonymy conveys emotion by symbolizing a larger social force or condition.

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8. “The stage held its breath.” “Stage” represents:

The wood and nails only

The whole theatrical world: actors, crew, audience

The ticket office

The director’s chair

“Stage” stands for everyone involved in the performance, heightening dramatic tension.

Explanation

“Stage” stands for everyone involved in the performance, heightening dramatic tension.

9. Metonymy often appears in political speeches to:

Sum up complex issues in symbolic terms

Remove all emotion

Avoid talking about people

Focus only on history

Political speakers use metonymy to make large, complex ideas easier to grasp and emotionally resonant.

Explanation

Political speakers use metonymy to make large, complex ideas easier to grasp and emotionally resonant.

10. “The uniform walked into the room and everyone straightened up.” “Uniform” stands for:

Clothing styles

A police officer or authority figure

A sports jersey

A student

The uniform symbolizes authority, not the clothing itself.

Explanation

The uniform symbolizes authority, not the clothing itself.

11. Which sentence uses metonymy to suggest collective strength?

The hands worked alone.

The crowd raised its voice.

The clouds gathered in silence.

The tree stood tall.

Using a single “voice” for a group emphasizes unity and shared power.

Explanation

Using a single “voice” for a group emphasizes unity and shared power.

12. “The pen trembled as the treaty was signed.” The metonymy of “pen” emphasizes:

The physical object’s quality

The fragile, powerful act of agreement

The writer’s poor handwriting

The cost of the ink

The “pen” represents the act of diplomacy and decision-making, highlighting its significance.

Explanation

The “pen” represents the act of diplomacy and decision-making, highlighting its significance.

13. Metonymy can subtly reveal an author’s attitude by:

Choosing what symbol stands in for a person or institution

Removing all descriptive detail

Ignoring characters

Avoiding figurative language

The symbol chosen reflects how the author views the subject—respectfully, critically, or emotionally.

Explanation

The symbol chosen reflects how the author views the subject—respectfully, critically, or emotionally.

14. “The halls of power trembled.” What is “halls of power”?

The carpets in a building

The structures and people who hold political authority

A school hallway

Only the furniture

“Halls of power” is metonymy for political institutions and leaders.

Explanation

“Halls of power” is metonymy for political institutions and leaders.

15. Overall, metonymy is most useful for:

Packing complex social, political, or emotional ideas into a single, resonant image

Making sentences longer and harder to read

Avoiding symbolism and tone

Only creating puns

Metonymy allows writers to express layered meaning efficiently and powerfully.

Explanation

Metonymy allows writers to express layered meaning efficiently and powerfully.

Tone, Symbolism, and Effect of Metonymy

1. Metonymy can make institutions or forces feel:

2.

What first name or nickname would you like us to use?

2. “The crown bowed its head in grief.” The metonymy here emphasizes:

3. Which tone is created by “The sword slept; the pen awoke”?

4. “Wall Street froze in fear.” “Wall Street” represents:

5. Metonymy helps an author express emotion by:

6. “The pulpit wept for the lost.” What emotional effect does this metonymy create?

7. Match the example with the emotional effect

8. “The stage held its breath.” “Stage” represents:

9. Metonymy often appears in political speeches to:

10. “The uniform walked into the room and everyone straightened up.” “Uniform” stands for:

11. Which sentence uses metonymy to suggest collective strength?

12. “The pen trembled as the treaty was signed.” The metonymy of “pen” emphasizes:

13. Metonymy can subtly reveal an author’s attitude by:

14. “The halls of power trembled.” What is “halls of power”?

15. Overall, metonymy is most useful for: