PartTwo(IV)修辞学

1、Part Two (IV)Part Two (IV)Semantic Figures of Speech Semantic Figures of Speech1. Simile2. Metaphor3. Metonymy4. Synecdoche5. Personification6. Parody7. Synesthesia8. Transferred epithet明喻明喻暗喻，隐喻暗喻，隐喻借代借代提喻提喻比拟比拟仿写，戏仿，仿拟，仿用，摹拟仿写，戏仿，仿拟，仿用，摹拟通感通感移就移就 1.Simile：it derives from a Latin word “similis”, me

2、aning “like”. It is a figure of speech by which two concepts or two dissimilar things are imaginatively and descriptively compared because they have at least one quality or characteristic in common or in resemblance. A simile is usually made up of three parts: 1)tenor/the primary term 2)vehicle/the

3、secondary term3)a connective word to connect the tenor and the vehicle and show the relationship of comparisonThe commonest connectives are like, as, more than, as if, as though, resemble, suggest, seem, resemble, asas, compareto, etc.本体本体喻体喻体喻词喻词Simile is one of the commonest figures of speech in E

4、nglish. Its chief function is to draw sharp picture in the mind through comparisons, to give deeper insight into things, persons and ideas through suggestive association, or to explain abstract, complicated ideas in simple, concrete imagery. A simile should meet the following four basic demands:1)It

5、 has the comparative words /connectives;2) There should be two things involved in comparison;3)The two things must be substantially different;4)The two things should be similar in at least quality/aspect. 1)Jim looks like his brother Billy. 2)Jim and his brother Billy are as like as two peas.a.The c

6、hild is like a man.b.The man standing there looks like a beggar.c.The tiger is as brave as the lion. Examples of simile:1)He was like a cock who thought the sun had risen to hear him crow.2) I compare his genius to a lightening flash.3)Beauty is as summer fruit, which are easy to corrupt and cannot

7、last. (Bacon)4)As cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.5)You might as well expect the sun to rise in the west as hope to move me.6) His face resembles a silver moon.7)But my body was like a harp and her words and gestures were like fingers running upon the wires. 8)Leaves

8、 do for plants what lungs do for animal. 9) The pen is to a writer what the gun is to a fighter. 10) What the gun is to a fighter, the pen is to a writer.2. Metaphor : it derives from the Greek word “metaphora”, meaning “transference, carrying”. It is the most commonly used figure of speech in our w

9、riting and speaking, esp. in poetry. Aristotle said, “Metaphor is sth. a poet is born with.” It uses words to indicate sth. different from their literal meaning-one thing is described in terms of another so as to suggest a likeness or analogy between them. Metaphor and Simile share quite a few commo

10、n qualities. Both involve the comparison between unlike elements. But Metaphor and Simile differ from each other in various ways. 1)The world is like a stage. 2) All the world is a stage. In the visible metapher, both tenor and vehicle are present in the sentence. It takes the form of “X is Y”. 3) Y

11、ou are my sunshine. 4) The child is the apple in her eye. 5) She is my worst nightmare. 6) The house will be paradise.The invisible metaphor refers to either of the following two types.1.Tenor is present, but vehicle is not-but it is hinted at by other wordsin many cases by verb(s).a. some books are

12、 to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.b.Her words stabbed at his heart.2. Vehicle is present, but tenor is not-but it is suggested by vehicle. This kind of metaphor leaves room for the reads imagination.a.And we cant turn back clocks, and I dont want to.b.Math

13、ematics has many branches. More examples: Noun metaphors1)One woman said to another, “Mary, lets spend money like water-dripdripdrip”2)Age is my alarm clock.(T+be+V)3)As I approached, a surf of traffic engulfed me.4)She is an angel of wife.V+of(a) +T5)A word and a stone let go cannot be recovered.6)

14、Love and cough cannot be hid. (T+and+V) Verb metaphors 1) His circle has melted away. 2)The corridor was flooded with boys and girls. 3) He wormed into our confidence. Adjective metaphors 1)It is a thorny problem. 2) He has a heart of stone. 3) He lashed out at me with frosty sarcasm. Adverbial meta

15、phors1)He was cuttingly(bitingly)sarcastic to her.2)The old man was freezingly polite to us. Proverb as vehicle 1) Still waters run deep. 2) Fish stinks at the head.3) A new broom sweeps clean.Sustained metaphor (博喻博喻) : in some metaphors, tenor is successively compared to two or more vehicles. Thes

16、e metaphors are called “sustained metaphor ”Beauty is but a vain and doubtful good;A shinning gloss that evadeth suddenly;A flower that dies when first it begins to bud;A brittle glass thats broken present美美只不过是难以确定的浮光掠影只不过是难以确定的浮光掠影华彩华彩耀目却会突然失去光明耀目却会突然失去光明花儿花儿刚刚绽放转瞬即已枯萎刚刚绽放转瞬即已枯萎玻璃玻璃一经敲碎眼前顿失晶莹一经敲碎眼

17、前顿失晶莹Extended metaphor (延喻延喻,扩喻扩喻):it is another form of comparison, in which an initial comparison is made and then developed. 1)A photographer is the cod, which produces a million eggs in order that one may reach maturity. 摄影师是豆荚摄影师是豆荚,豆荚里蹦出百万豆子期豆荚里蹦出百万豆子期望其中有一个能够成熟。望其中有一个能够成熟。 2) Laws are cobwebs

18、, where the flies are caught and the great break through. 3.Metonymy: it comes from the Greek word “metonymia”, meaning “change of name”. is a common figure of speech. It consists in using the name of one thing for that of something else with which it is associated. Metonymy is very common in everyd

19、ay language. Unlike metaphor, the ground of the substitution in metonymy is not similarity, but association.Metonymy can be derived from the following sources.body part as a name for the sense, behavior or ability 1)He has a good ear for music. 2) That young man has a sharp tongue. Name of a person

20、as a name for his/her works or style 1)Will you play me some Chopin? 2) We are reading Dickens. Name of a clear sign of an object or a person for the object or the person 1)Those big noses, blue eyes and yellow hair taught them English. 2) Out of the window, he saw a grey beard with his hands folded

21、 before him.Name of a place as a name for sth. produced or some event that happened there1)He met his Waterloo.2)The thief was behind the arras.3)He likes Maotai rather than champagne.Instrument or container as a name for the method, position or substance1)The kettle is boiling.2)He was appointed to

22、 the bench.3)We discussed the matter over a bottle.Trade mark or brand as a name for the products1)He was driving a Ford.2)She burned Player after Player in her nervousness. Location as a name for the government, institutions or enterprises 1) Kremlin-the Russian government 2)Westminster-British Par

23、liament 3)Wall Street-U. S. financial center 4)Hollywood-American film-making industryThe distinction between metaphor and metonymy can be based on the following two pointed: (1)Metaphor can be converted into Simile, while Metonymy can not; Metaphor appeals to the readers imagination for similarity

24、between the different objects, while Metonymy appeals to the readers imagination for association of ideas it provokes.More examples of metonymy1.The minute Presley took the stage, the music hall burst into cheers.2.The whole town attended the funeral.3.Sorry, my pocket cant afford such a pair of sho

25、es.4.The crown should not yield to the cross.5.Bob was promoted from the blue-collar to the white-collar in the shortest time.6.He is an authority on Shakespeare.4.synecdoche ：a figure of speech by which a part is put for the whole , the whole for the part, the species for the genus, the genus for t

26、he species, the concrete for the abstract, or the abstract for the concrete, or the name of the material for the thing made. 1)He has many mouths to feed in the family. 2)She cut herself in the kitchen. 3) Alas, that spring should vanish with the rose. 4) There sits my animal guarding the door to th

27、e henhouse. (for dog)5)All the wit and learning of the world were assembled here.( for wise and learned people)6)This fox goes well with your cap.7)The mercury reads 3 degrees below zero. ( for thermometer whose essential component is mercury)8)Give us this day our daily bread. Metonymy & Synecdoche

28、 It is true that metonymy and synecdoche are confusing and it is difficult for people to distinguish them. In fact, the difference between them is obvious. With synecdoche, the relationship between the two things involved is part-and whole; whereas, with metonymy, the two things involved are complet

29、ely different, they are simply juxtaposed and closely correlated. 1)Her heart ruled her head. 2)He paid the workers $5 per head. Clearly, in 1) “heart” is for “feeling”, “head” for “reasoning”. The reason for these substitutes is that heart is generally acknowledged to correlate to our feeling, and

30、head, to our reasoning. While in 2) “head” is for “worker”, the relation between head and the whole body is that of part and whole.Identify Metonymy and Synecdoche:1)Lets drink a cup or two.2)They were short of hands.3)He likes to read Hemingway.4)My TV is out of order.5)The pen is mightier than the

31、 sword.6)He could hardly earn his everyday bread.7)The poor man is now left without a roof.This famous port used to be a harbor which was crowded with masts.It may be regarded as synecdoche, because “mast” is in the case the part for the whole “ship”; or it may be metonymy, because “mast” serves as

32、a symbol of a “ship”.Synecdoche is now usually included under metonymy.5.Personification: it is a very common figure of speech which attributes human characteristics to impersonal things, such as animals, inanimate objects, or abstraction. It is usually employed to add vividness to expression.1)Time

33、 is the best physician.2)The kettle is singing joyfully.3) The gentle breeze caressed my cheeks and soothed my anger.4)Life had cheated her.5)This corner has witnessed many traffic accidents.6)A great ship asks deep water.7)The wind sighed in the tree tops.8.Autumn is honest, it does not pretend to

34、be heaven. 6.Parody : it comes from the Greek word “paroidia”, meaning “counter-song”. This figure of speech is seen as kind of imitation which borrows the style and techniques of a text or writers idiolect and fits new subject matter to it. It is often used for a humorous or satirical purpose.1)A j

35、ob in hand was worth two in the future. 2)Where there is water, there is life. 3)A friend in need is a friend to be avoided.4)I had no outlook, but an uplook. My place in society was at the bottom.5) Give me Green World , or give me yesterday.6) Twinkle, twinkle, little bat, How I wonder what you ar

36、e at! Up above the world you fly Like a tea tray in the sky. ( This is the parody of a popular childrens song) Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are! Up above the world so high Like a diamond in the sky.7.Synaesthesia : it comes from the Greek “syn-”(union) and “aisthesis”(sensation).As a figure of speech, it refers to t