Which term describes addressing an absent or imaginary person?

• A. Apostrophe
• B. Metonymy
• C. Onomatopoeia
• D. Metaphor

Answer: (A)

The device being tested is apostrophe. It happens when the speaker directly addresses someone who isn’t present—an absent or imaginary person, or even an inanimate object or abstract idea—as if they could respond. This creates immediacy and emotional emphasis, making the addressed figure feel real in the moment. A line like “O Fortune, why do you mock me?” shows speaking to a person who isn’t there, heightening drama and focus on the subject. By contrast, metonymy involves substituting a related name for something (not direct address to the absent figure), onomatopoeia imitates sounds, and metaphor draws a direct comparison between unlike things without using like or as.