Eponym - Examples and Definition of Eponym

Definition of Eponym
Eponym is a name of a legend or real character that writers accomplice with some different character, object, institution, or element. Simply, we can outline it as a well-known individual whose call is given to a person else, along with Homer has derived the call of his ancient epic The Odyssey from a major character, Odysseus. Many TV shows, books, and films have used eponymous characters like Emma, Harry Potter, and The Legend of Zelda. Besides, we typically see the use of this literary tool in literature, industry, places, and in several other fields.

Everyday Use of Eponym
The sandwich was given the name of a British politician, John Montagu, who changed into fourth Earl of Sandwich.
The cardigan sweater become named after the British military officer, James Thomas Brudenell, who turned into Seventh Earl of Cardigan.
The saxophone changed into given the name of Sax, a surname of a circle of relatives from Belgium, which changed into professional at making musical instruments.
Examples of Eponym in Literature
Example #1: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (By James Thurber)
James Thurber in his novel, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, introduces the main individual Walter Mitty, who's a instead timid and unadventurous fellow, whose wife has the dominating function in their relationship. Beneath his humble and timid exterior, Walter Mitty hides goals and a wonderful myth in his life wherein he imagines himself as a a success surgeon, a daredevil pilot, and a heroic naval commander. After his desires, the phrase “Walter Mitty Dreams” is used to consult a kind of wild delusion that an average individual can dream up to meet his/her daily grind.

Example #2: Gulliver’s Travels (By Jonathan Swift)
Jonathan Swift, in his satirical novel Gulliver’s Travels, uses the name “Lilliputian,” which originates from the miniature and fictional call of an island country situated within the South Pacific, wherein Gulliver changed into lashed to the ground. This term usually approach whatever small or miniature, or it could have a derogatory meaning, referring to pettiness or narrow-mindedness.

Swift also used the time period “Yahoos,” which can be an uncouth or degraded race of human beings whom Gulliver encounters at the Houyhnhnm island in book IV. Initially, Gulliver felt some trouble spotting them as human beings, due to the fact they had been so backward, and an clever race of horses called the Houyhnhnm would treat Yahoos as beasts. Today, Yahoo approach an ignorant, uncouth, or brutish character. Besides, Americans use it additionally as an exclamation of happiness or excitement. More recently, a very famous internet provider has named its search engine and service offering business enterprise as Yahoo.

Example #3: Life in London (By Pierce Egan)
A Victorian writer Pierce Egan in his 1821 ebook, Life in London, featured two famous characters, Tom and Jerry. This e-book have become very famous and sooner or later their adventurous story gained entry into in William T. Moncrieff’s play. More recently, William Hannah and Joseph Barbara have created a cartoon cat and mouse duo, dubbed Tom & Jerry. Their popularity in different comedian books and on television keeps today.

Example #4: Pickwick Papers (By Charles Dickens)
In Pickwick Papers, Charles Dickens has created his most endearing and enduring individual, Mr. Samuel Pickwick, who is head of the Pickwick Club in London. He and his associates make a journeying society to go to different areas in England, to take a look at the phenomena and peculiarities of life. The cause is to do something correct for others. Along the way, they come upon a few shady and evil characters, like Mr. Jingle.

However, the radical ends happily, as Mr. Pickwick efficiently understands the crisis in a family and reunites a married young couple with their relatives. Hence, the term “Pickwickian” is used typically now, that means generosity and simplicity, like Mr. Pickwick demonstrated.

There is another famous time period from this e-book, which has made it into dictionaries: “Pickwickian feel. Merriam Webster defines it as some thing “supposed or taken in a feel other than the obvious or literal one.” This time period derives from an incident that happened between Mr. Blotton and Mr. Pickwick, who seemingly abuse every other but, in fact, pay excessive regards.

Function of Eponym
Eponym is like an allusion that refers to a famous character. Therefore, it develops a link between a reference and the aspect being referred to, and thru this connection, readers are able to apprehend the concept easily. The scope of eponym is wide. It is everywhere, as we can easily discover its common use in literature, politics, advertising, sciences, discoveries, music, films, medicines, and criminal studies. Besides, eponyms give further meanings to the phrases and increase readers’ data by offering them reference of the names of well-known persons from history.