What is antonomasia?
Using a descriptive phrase or epithet instead of the proper name of a person or thing.
Antonomasia: Or, How to Subvert Expectations with Words
Antonomasia is a fancy word for something that writers do all the time: using a descriptive phrase or epithet instead of the proper name of a person or thing. For example, you might call your math teacher 'the numbers wizard' instead of using their real name. Or you might refer to your car as 'the trusty steed.'
Antonomasia can be a clever way to subvert your reader's expectations or add a touch of humor or irony to your writing. It's a form of figurative language that can make your writing more vivid and engaging.
So don't be afraid to use antonomasia in your creative writing. Just make sure your descriptive phrase is well-chosen and adds something new to the way your reader perceives the person, place, or thing you're referring to. With a bit of creativity, antonomasia can be a powerful tool in your writer's toolkit.
In literature, antonomasia can be used to lend weight to a character or subvert expectations.
William Shakespeare makes ample use of antonomasia in his plays, but perhaps none more so than in his depiction of Julius Caesar. In the play, Caesar is referred to variously as the 'man of destiny,' the 'foremost man of all this world,' and the 'mace' that keeps Rome safe. These epithets not only show the respect and fear that Caesar inspires in others, but also elevate him beyond a mere mortal.
In F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, the main character is introduced to us not by his given name, but by the title of the book itself. Gatsby is a master of reinvention, and his name is perhaps the most malleable thing about him. Other characters in the book also take on qualities based on their names—Tom Buchanan is brutish and strong, while his wife Daisy is delicate and fleeting. Antonomasia allows Fitzgerald to imbue his characters with qualities that extend beyond their actions and into the very names they're given.