Advanced Placement (AP) English Language and Composition Practice Exam

Which of the following demonstrates a type of metaphor where an attribute's name substitutes for the thing meant?

1. Simile

2. Metonymy

3. Hyperbole

4. Personification

The correct answer is: Metonymy

The correct answer is metonymy. Metonymy is a figure of speech in which an attribute or commonly associated feature is used to represent something more significant. For example, when we refer to the "White House" to talk about the President or their administration, we are using metonymy because "White House" is a physical structure that is closely associated with the actions and decisions of the President. In contrast, a simile explicitly compares two different things using "like" or "as," which does not involve substitution based on association. Hyperbole involves exaggerated statements that aren't meant to be taken literally, which also does not fit the definition of using an attribute’s name as a substitute. Personification attributes human characteristics to non-human entities, which does not involve the substitution of an attribute's name for the thing meant either. These distinctions highlight why metonymy is the appropriate choice in this context.