Antonomasia
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The term "Antonomasia" refers to when a subject's name is substituted for a short phrase that represents the subject's overall being in someway. It is derived from ancient Greek (from the Latin word pronominatio) (WHAT DOES THIS LATIN WORD MEAN?) . This particular trope can be used to suggest that someone is famous enough that their name isn't needed in order for them to be recognized. However, it can also be used to characterize the infamy of a person.
Gabe G. (Primary)
Ryan D. (Other Primary)
Ashley R. (Secondary)
Amy O (Poster Edition)
History
Although the similar concept of nicknames has likely been around much longer, antonomasia has been in use as a literary trope since at least the late Middle Ages and the early Renaissance. Hrotsvit of Gandersheim, a noted female Germanic poet of the tenth century, was known for using Antonomasia to great effect for character definition [1].
Use in Fiction
Antonomasia is often used in literature to give a character a title that is important to their overall purpose in the work. This can be a character's in-universe title, or it can be a sort of nickname that convey's important information that a reader should know to get a feel for the character. Katharina M. Wilson, from the University of Georgia, notes that it can be used to add a layer of extra information to an identity to a character that a reader would not get simply from reading the character's given name.[2]
Examples
While most examples begin the phrase with the definite article "the", it is not necessary. Antonomasia refers to any phrase used as a title in place of a proper name, including nicknames in most cases. However, the common pattern is for the phrase to describe the subject, often with an adjective.(ADDING MORE EXAMPLES WILL BE APPRECIATED).
Fictional Examples
Many characters in literature have nicknames that remain in the public consciousness.
"The Man of Steel" or "The Man of Tomorrow" refers to Superman.
"The Dark Knight" or "The Caped Crusader" refers to Batman.
"The World-Wide Leader in Sports" refers to the sports company ESPN.
"Maverick" refers to Pete Mitchell, from the film Top Gun.
"The Bandit" refers to Burt Reynold's character from the film Smokey and the Bandit.
"The Bride" refers to the protagonist of the Kill Bill movies.
Title Examples
These examples are actual titles of power.
"Your Highness" refers to a Queen or someone else known by the title.
"Your Majesty" refers to a King, or other high powered Monarch.
"Commander in Chief" refers to the President of the United States.
"Your Honor" refers to a judge in a courtroom.
"His Holiness" refers to the Dalai Lama.
Athletic Examples
Within the world of sports, this trope is used quite often. Here are a few examples of such:
"The Majors" of "The Big Time" refers to Major League Baseball.
"His Airness" refers to basketball legend Michael Jordan.
"The Bambino" refers to baseball legend Babe Ruth.
"Black Mamba" refers to current basketball star Kobe Bryant.
"Sweetness" refers to football legend Walter Payton.
"The Golden Boy" refers to boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya.
"The Executioner" refers to light-heavyweight boxing champion Bernard Hopkins.
"The Round Mound of Rebound" refers to basketball legend Charles Barkley.
Pop Culture Examples
Popular culture has created many nicknames that count as examples of antonomasia.
"The Governator" refers to Arnold Schwarzenegger.
"Uncle Sam" refers to the U.S. Government.
"The Iron Lady" refers to Margaret Thatcher.
"The King of Pop" refers to late pop icon Michael Jackson.
"The God-Father of Soul" and "The Hardest Working Man in Showbusiness" refers to late soul singer James Brown.
Poster
References
- ↑ Wilson, Katharina M. "Antonomasia as a Means of Character—Definition in the Works of Hrotsvit of Gandersheim.." Rhetorica: A Journal of the History of Rhetoric . 2.1 (1984): 45-53. Print.
- ↑ Wilson, Katharina M. "Antonomasia as a Means of Character—Definition in the Works of Hrotsvit of Gandersheim.." Rhetorica: A Journal of the History of Rhetoric . 2.1 (1984): 45-53. Print.
