Advanced Placement (AP) English Literature Practice Exam

What is an example of synecdoche?

1. The whole representing a part

2. A logical argument

3. A descriptive image

4. A character's viewpoint

The correct answer is: The whole representing a part

Synecdoche is a literary device in which a part of something is used to represent the whole, or vice versa. The answer that states “the whole representing a part” aligns with the definition of synecdoche because it highlights the relationship between the part and the whole. For instance, saying "the United States won gold in the relay" uses "United States" to refer to the team or athletes from the country, demonstrating how a whole can represent a part of a larger entity. Other options do not correctly reflect the definition of synecdoche. A logical argument, a descriptive image, and a character's viewpoint each pertain to different aspects of literature and rhetoric, such as reasoning, visual representation, and perspective, none of which specifically capture the essence of synecdoche. Thus, the choice that describes how the whole can represent a part is indeed the correct identification of synecdoche.