修辞法(figures of speech).doc

A figure of speech, sometimes termed a rhetoric, or locution, is a word or phrase that departs from straightforward, literal language. Figures of speech are often used and crafted for emphasis, freshness of expression, or clarity. However, clarity may also suffer from their use. Note that all theories of meaning necessarily have a concept of literal language (see literal and figurative language). Under theories that do not, figure of speech is not an entirely coherent concept.Review Quiz: Top 20 Figures ofSpeechBy Richard NordquistThis quiz should help you to understand and remember the terms and concepts introduced in the Top 20 Figures of Speech1. For each question below, choose the one figure of speech2 that is most clearly illustrated by the short passage. (To review a definition, simply click on the term to visit the glossary entry.) When youre done, compare your answers with those at the bottom of the page.TIP: To view this exercise without ads, click on print this page.1. Well, son, Ill tell you:Life for me aint been no crystal stair.Its had tacks in it,And splinters,And boards torn up,And places with no carpet on the floor-Bare.(Langston Highes, Mother to Son)(a) synecdoche3(b) metaphor4(c) irony5(d) pun62. Why should white people be running all the stores in our community? Why should white people be running the banks of our community? Why should the economy of our community be in the hands of the white man? Why?(Malcolm X)(a) antithesis7(b) litotes8(c) anaphora9(d) understatement103. substituting the word “euthanasia” for “mercy killing or killing the terminally ill(a) hyperbole11(b) euphemism12(c) assonance13(d) oxymoron144. I had so much homework last night that I needed a pickup truck to carry all my books home!(a) synechdoche15(b) onomatopoeia16(c) pun17(d) hyperbole185. Lets just say that Ms. Hilton is not the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree.(a) paradox19(b) litotes20(c) apostrophe21(d) chiasmus226. The chug-a, chug-a, chug-a of the train echoed down the hill, while a cloud of smoke rose up to the blue western sky.(a) simile23(b) metonymy24(c) anaphora25d) onomatopoeia267. But the prisoner would not answer, he only lay with wide, dark, bright, eyes, like a bound animal.(D. H. Lawrence, England, My England)(a) oxymoron27(b) euphemism28(c) anaphora29(d) personification308. You have a lot of work to do, so Ill lend you a hand.(a) assonance31(b) apostrophe32(c) irony33(d) synechdoche349. The wind had blown off, leaving a loud, bright night, with wings beating in the trees and a persistent organ sound as the full bellows of the earth blew the frogs full of life.(F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby)(a) chiasmus35(b) alliteration36(c) pun37(d) oxymoron3810. O Western wind, when wilt thou blowThat the small rain down can rain?Christ, that my love were in my arms,And I in my bed again!(Anonymous, O Western Wind)(a) litotes39(b) paradox40(c) apostrophe41(d) anaphora4211. The heart of a fool is in his mouth, but the mouth of a wise man is in his heart.(Benjamin Franklin)(a) hyperbole43(b) chiasmus44(c) litotes45(d) anaphora4612. We talked with each other about each otherThough neither of us spoke (Emily Dickinson)(a) metonymy47(b) paradox48(c) synecdoche49(d) personification5013. The earth laughs beneath my heavy feetAt the blasphemy in my old jangly walk(Billy Corgan, Thirty-three)(a) euphemism51(b) simile52(c) antithesis53(d) personification5414. I dig my toes into the sand.The ocean looks likeA thousand diamonds strewnAcross a blue blanket.(Incubus, Wish You Were Here)(a) chiasmus55(b) simile56(c) onomatopoeia57(d) synecdoche5815. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread.(Vergil)(a) simile59(b) irony60(c) metonymy61(d) assonance6216. Why do we wait until a pig is dead to cure it?(a) pun63(b) personification64(c) anaphora65(d) synechdoche6617. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way.(Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities)(a) antithesis67(b) litotes68(c) simile69(d) understatement7018. My wishes raced through the house high hayAnd nothing I cared, at my sky blue trades, . . .(Dylan Thomas, Fern Hill)(a) simile71(b) irony72(c) metonymy73(d) assonance7419. And he was rich, yes, richer than a king,And admirably schooled in every grace:In fine-we thought that he was everythingTo make us wish that we were in his place.So on we worked and waited for the light,And went without the meat and cursed the bread,And Richard Cory, one calm summer night,Went home and put a bullet in his head.(E. A. Robinson, Richard Cory)(a) chiasmus75(b) litotes76(c) antithesis77(d) irony7820. Prospective buyers are advised not to rely heavily on the front brakes, which are not connected.(advertisement for a replica 1925 Rolls-Royce WWI Armored Car)(a) antithesis79(b) simile80(c) anaphora81(d) understatement82Answers:1. (b) metaphor832. (c) anaphora843. (b) euphemism854. (d) hyperbole865. (b) litotes876. (d) onomatopoeia887. (a) oxymoron898. (d) synechdoche909. (b) alliteration9110. (c) apostrophe9211. (b) chiasmus9312. (b) paradox9413. (d) personification9514. (b) simile9615. (c) metonymy9716. (a) pun9817. (a) antithesis9918. (d) assonance10019. (d) irony10120. (d) understatement102Figures of speech (修辞)are ways of making our language figurative. When we use words in other than their ordinary or literal sense to lend force to an idea, to heighten effect, or to create suggestive imagery, we are said to be speaking or writing figuratively. Now we are going to talk about some common forms of figures of speech. 1) Simile：(明喻）It is a figure of speech which makes a comparison between two unlike elements having at least one quality or characteristic (特性)in common. To make the comparison, words like as, as.as, as if and like are used to transfer the quality we associate with one to the other. For example, As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.2) Metaphor：(暗喻）It is like a simile, also makes a comparison between two unlike elements, but unlike a simile, this comparison is implied rather than stated. For example, the world is a stage.3) Analogy: (类比）It is also a form of comparison, but unlike simile or metaphor which usually uses comparison on one point of resemblance, analogy draws a parallel between two unlike things that have several common qualities or points of resemblance.4) Personification: (拟人）It gives human form of feelings to animals, or life and personal attributes(赋予) to inanimate(无生命的) objects, or to ideas and abstractions(抽象). For example, the wind whistled through the trees.5) Hyperbole: (夸张） It is the deliberate use of overstatement or exaggeration to achieve emphasis. For instance, he almost died laughing.6) Understatement: (含蓄陈述） It is the opposite of hyperbole, or overstatement. It achieves its effect of emphasizing a fact by deliberately(故意地) understating it, impressing the listener or the reader more by what is merely implied or left unsaid than by bare statement. For instance, It is no laughing matter.7) Euphemism: (委婉） It is the substitution of an agreeable or inoffensive(无冒犯) expression for one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant. For instance, we refer to die as pass away.8) Metonymy (转喻） It is a figure of speech that has to do with the substitution of the mane of one thing for that of another. For instance, the pen (words) is mightier than the sword (forces).9) Synecdoche (提喻） It is involves the substitution of the part for the whole, or the whole for the part. For instance, they say theres bread and work for all. She was dressed in silks.10) Antonomasia (换喻）It has also to do with substitution. It is not often mentioned now, though it is still in frequent use. For example, Solomon for a wise man. Daniel for a wise and fair judge. Judas for a traitor.11) Pun: (双关语） It is a play on words, or rather a play on the form and meaning of words. For instance, a cannon-ball took off his legs, so he laid down his arms. (Here arms has two meanings: a persons body; weapons carried by a soldier.)12) Syllepsis: (一语双叙） It has two connotations. In the first case, it is a figure by which a word, or a particular form or inflection of a word, refers to two or more words in the same sentence, while properly applying to or agreeing with only on of them in grammar or syntax(句法). For example, He addressed you and me, and desired us to follow him. (Here us is used to refer to you and me.) In the second case, it a word may refer to two or more words in the same sentence. For example, while he was fighting , and losing limb and mind, and dying, others stayed behind to pursue education and career. (Here to losing ones limbs in literal; to lose ones mind is figurative, and means to go mad.)13) Zeugma: (轭式搭配） It is a single word which is made to modify or to govern two or more words in the same sentence, wither properly applying in sense to only one of them, or applying to them in different senses. For example, The sun shall not burn you by day, nor the moon by night. (Here noon is not strong enough to burn)14) Irony: (反语） It is a figure of speech that achieves emphasis by saying the opposite of what is meant, the intended meaning of the words being the opposite of their usual sense. For instance, we are lucky, what you said makes me feel real good.15) Innuendo: (暗讽） It is a mild form of irony, hinting in a rather roundabout (曲折)way at something disparaging(不一致) or uncomplimentary(不赞美) to the person or subject mentioned. For example, the weatherman said it would be worm. He must take his readings in a bathroom.16) Sarcasm: (讽刺） It Sarcasm is a strong form of irony. It attacks in a taunting and bitter manner, and its aim is to disparage, ridicule and wound the feelings of the subject attacked. For example, laws are like cobwebs, which may catch small flies, but let wasps break through.17) Paradox: (似非而是的隽语） It is a figure of speech consisting of a statement or proposition which on the face of it seems self-contradictory, absurd or contrary to established fact or practice, but which on further thinking and study may prove to be true, well-founded, and even to contain a succinct point. For example more haste, less speed.18) Oxymoron: (矛盾修饰） It is a compressed paradox, formed by the conjoining(结合) of two contrasting, contradictory or incongruous(不协调) terms as in bitter-sweet memories, orderly chaos(混乱) and proud humility(侮辱).19) Antithesis: (对照） It is the deliberate arrangement of contrasting words or ideas in balanced structural forms to achieve emphasis. For example, speech is silver; silence is golden.20) Epigram: (警句） It states a simple truth pithily(有利地) and pungently(强烈地). It is usually terse and arouses interest and surprise by its deep insight into certain aspects of human behavior or feeling. For instance, Few, save the poor, feel for the poor.21) Climax: (渐进） It is derived from the Greek word for ladder and implies the progression of thought at a uniform or almost uniform rate of significance or intensity, like the steps of a ladder ascending evenly. For example, I came, I saw, I conquered.22) Anti-climax or bathos: (突降）It is the opposite of Climax. It invo