Synecdoche

(n) An indirect reference; naming a part of a constituent that represents the whole. E.g.) Moscow à Russian government
 * Synecdoche**

SHAKESPEARE __Hamlet__ “Good Hamlet, cast thy knighted colour off / **And let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark**.” - Queen Gertrude (I, ii) Effects: The synecdoche Denmark refers to Hamlet’s uncle, who has recently assumed the throne following the mysterious death of Hamlet’s father. As king, Claudius does not represent himself, but rather represents his entire country. Identifying Claudius as Denmark ties in quite well to the repeated phrase “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark”, for Hamlet eventually discovers that Claudius is responsible for the death of his father. Also, synecdoche illustrates Claudius’ power as king, because he is now not just a man but an entire country, in stark contrast to the isolated Hamlet.

FROST __Out, Out –__ “So. **But the hand was gone already**.” Effects: The hand is a direct reference to the boy in the poem, and most importantly to the boy’s usefulness; without his hand, the boy is unable to work, which reinstates Frost’s theme of the glorification of labor. Following this line, the boy is “put into the dark of ether”, or essentially euthanized (whether out of cruelty or in preservation of the boy’s dignity is arguable); therefore, the preceding synecdoche “the hand” also serves to foreshadow the boy’s fate.