英语中常用的修辞手法知识讲解

1、英语中常用的修辞手法 1. Simile (明喻明喻) A figure that involves an expressed comparison, almost always introduced by the word “like” or “as”. The two things compared must be dissimilar and the basis of resemblance is usually an abstract quality. 用用like, as 或其他词指出两个截然不同的事物之或其他词指出两个截然不同的事物之间相似之处的办法，叫明喻。间相似之处的办法，叫明

2、喻。( 本体本体: tenor; 喻体喻体: vehicle) 1) As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country. 2) The water lay gray and wrinkled like an elephants skin. 3) He bellowed like a bull seeking combat. 4) That man cant be trusted. Hes as slippery as an eel. More examples:A word and a stone let

3、go cannot be recalled.Love and cough cannot be hid (hidden).He had no more idea of money than a cow.The pen is to a writer what the gun is to a fighter. (A is to B what C is to D.)What sculpture is to a block of marble, education is to the soul. ( What C is to D, A is to B.) 2. Metaphor(暗喻暗喻) The su

4、bstitution of one thing for another, or the identification of two things from different ranges of thought. It is often loosely defined as “an implied comparison,” “a simile without like or as”. Metaphor is considered by many the most important and basic poetic figure and also the commonest and the m

5、ost beautiful. 1) Irrigation is the lifeblood of agriculture. 2) All his former joy was drowned in the embarrassment and confusion he was feeling at the moment. 3) Snow clothes the ground. A metaphor, to be effective, has to have three properties, viz., a) freshness and originality, b) aptness and c

6、) consistency. A metaphor is apt and appropriate if the comparison implied heightens effect or enhances the subject. e.g. Her beautiful long hair was pitch-black. () Her beautiful long hair was jet-black. ( ) The night was pitch-black. ( ) Consistency in metaphors becomes relevant and important when

7、 we are using two or more metaphors to illustrate the same subject. The metaphors are consistent if they produce images related to and supporting each other and are not mixed or discordant. e.g. The seeds of rebellion were kindled in secret. () (Here the metaphors are not consistent. One metaphor co

8、mpares the initial stirrings of rebellion to seeds; the other likens the birth and growth of these feelings to the kindling of flames. Now seeds cannot be kindled. The metaphors are mixed.) The flames of rebellion were kindled in secret. () Mixed metaphors can produce very amusing and illogical imag

9、ery, and are to be strictly avoided. More examples: I skim over the book to taste the tone of it. () (Tone cannot be tasted.) At last he felt a ray of hope. () (We normally see rays.) Below is an example of how three sets of metaphors are blended Skillfully together to illustrate the difficulty of e

10、diting academic writing: And so, anticipating no literary treat, I plunged into the forest of words of my first manuscript. My weapons were a sturdy eraser and several batteries of sharpened pencils. My armor was a thesaurus. And if I should become lost, a near-by public library was a landmark, and

11、the Encyclopedia of Social Science on its reference shelves was an ever-ready guide. Instead of big trees, I found underbrush. Cutting through involved, lumbering sentences was bad enough, but the real chore was removal of the burdocks (牛蒡牛蒡) of excess verbiage which clung to the manuscript. (S.T. W

12、illiamson: “How to Write Like a Social Scientist”)(1st set: plunge-get lost-landmark- guide2nd set: forest- trees- underbrush- lumber-burdocks3rd set: weapons- batteries- armor- cutting through- removal )3. Personification (拟人拟人) A figure of speech that gives human form or feelings to animals, or li

13、fe and personal attributes to inanimate objects, or to ideas and abstractions. There are three chief kinds of personifications: 1) That produced by the use of adjectives. the blushing rose; the thirsty ground 2) That produced by the use of verbs. the kettle sings; the waves danced 3) That produced b

14、y the use of nouns. the smiles of spring; the whisper of leavesMore examples: a) Youth is hot and bold, Age is weak and cold, Youth is wild, and Age is tame. William Shakespeare b) The match will soon be over and defeat is staring us in the face. c) This time fate was smiling to him. d) Dusk came st

15、ealthily. e) The storm was raging and an angry sea was continuously tossing their boat. f) The wind whistled through the trees.4. Metonymy (换喻，转喻换喻，转喻) The substitution of the name of one thing for that of another with which it is closely associated. For example: 1) The pen is mightier than the swor

16、d. 2) She sets a good table. (= She provides good food.) 3) He is too fond of the bottle. 4) Gray hairs should be respected. 5) I have never read Li Bai. Metonymy can be derived from various sources from names of persons, form animals, professions, locations or place names, etc., as illustrated belo

17、w:Metonymy (2)A. Names of persons a) John Bull: England, or the English people b) Uncle Sam: The United States of AmericaB. Animals the bear: the former Soviet Union or the Soviet government C. Parts of the body a) heart: feelings or emotions b) head, brain: wisdom, intelligence, reason e.g. Her hea

18、rt ruled her head. Use your brains. c) gray hair: old age Metonymy (3)D. Professions a) the bar: the legal profession b) the press: newspapers; newspaper reportersE. Locations of government, of business or industrial enterprises a) Downing Street: the British government or cabinet b) The White House

19、: the President or Executive branch of the U.S. government c) the Pentagon: the U.S. military establishment d) Wall Street: U.S. financial circles e) Hollywood: American film-making industry f) Foggy Bottom: U.S. State Department5. Synecdoche ( (提喻提喻) ) A. the naming of a part to mean the whole. For

20、 xample, 1. We are short of hands. (“Hands” for men who do manual labor.) 2. a fleet of 50 sails (for “a fleet of 50 ships”) B. the naming of the material for the thing made. e.g. Have you any coppers? (= any money?) C. the naming of the genus for the species. e.g. He is a poor creature. (= a poor m

21、an.) D. the naming of an individual for a class. e.g. He is the Newton of this century. Antonomasia (换称): The term for some common figurative uses of namesthe use of an epithet or title in place of a name his majesty for a king or the name of the king; his honor for a judge or the name of the judge;

22、 the Boss for the name of the employerThe use of a proper name instead of a common noun a Judas for a traitor He is our Gorky. Gorky for a famous writerCf. synecdoche. There is a certain degree of overlapping here. Figures of Speech (9)7. Euphemism (委婉语委婉语) The substitution of an agreeable or inoffe

23、nsive expression for one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant. e.g. “true words” the “gilded words” A. Death, Illness, Old Age, etc. to die to pass away; ones heart has stopped beating old people senior citizens old age getting on; past ones prime; feeling ones age; second childhood mad e

24、motionally disturbed; soft in the head; simple-minded fat people weight- watchers (The motive for the euphemisms in this case seems to be to avoid hurting peoples feelings.) B. Toilet Habits, etc. go to the toilet visit the necessary; answer natures call; do ones business; go to the bathroom (The mo

25、tive here, obviously, is to avoid using the true words which are considered crude and indecent in polite conversation.) C. Poverty and Unemployment dismiss lay off penniless hard up; in reduced circumstances in debt in difficulties the poor *the have-nots; the underpriviledged/ disadvantaged slums *

26、sub-standard housing (the euphemisms used by the poor themselves are to “soften” harsh reality, but the terms marked * often used by government personnel seem more to cover up governmental inability to solve social and economic problems “cosmetic” words, so to say.)D. Menial jobs or professions of l

27、ow social standing hairdresser beautician; hair-stylist; hair-designer undertaker mortician manicurist a nail technician mechanic automobile engineer bootblack footwear maintenance engineer garbage man sanitation engineer (The motive here is plainly to “uplift” these professions by name, if not by s

28、tatus. It reflects a sense of inferiority as well as a striving for “better things”.) E. Political and Military activities invasion military action aggression police action refugee displaced person D.P. retreat adjustment of the front; redeployment concentration camps strategic hamlets driving inhab

29、itants away pacification shelling or bombing of ones own troops ( or allied troops) accidental delivery or death or casualties caused by “friendly fire” (The euphemisms here are used to cover up the true nature of events, deceiving the public with nice-sounding and pseudo-technical words.)Figures of

30、 Speech (10)8. Hyperbole(夸张) A conscious exaggeration for the sake of emphasis, not intended to be understood literally. 1) The wave ran mountain high. 2) His speech brought the house down. 3) All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Figures of Speech (11)9. Litotes ( 曲言；含蓄渲染) A

31、 form of understatement (轻描淡写，降调陈述) which gains its particular effect by phrasing in the negative what it wishes to say positively. 1) This is no small accomplishment. 2) The German fleet was not an unworthy opponent. 3) This is not at all unpleasant.Figures of Speech (12)10. Antithesis (对照、对仗对照、对仗)

32、 The setting of contrasting phrases opposite each other for emphasis. In true antithesis the opposition between the elements is manifested through parallel grammatical structure. 1) The quest for righteousness is Oriental, the quest for knowledge, Occidental. (Sir William Osler) 2) Good breeding con

33、sists in concealing how much we think of ourselves and how little we think of the other person. (Mark Twain) 3) A friend exaggerates a mans virtues, an enemy his crimes. 4) If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.Antithesis (2) 5) Let both sides explo

34、re what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us. 6) And so, my fellow Americans ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country. 7) United, there is little we cannot do in a host of co-operative ventures. Divided, there is little we can d

35、o, for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and split asunder. 8) a world which will lament them a day and forget them forever 9) From them all Mark Twain gained a keen perception of the human race, of the difference between what people claim to be and what they really are.Figures of Speech

36、 (13)11. Paradox (反论；似非而是的隽语) a statement that appears to be logically contradictory and yet may be true, the purpose of which is to provoke fresh thought. 1) One mans terrorist is another mans freedom fighter. 2) My life closed twice before its close. (Emily Dickinson) (meaning two truly eventful t

37、hings occurred in her life before that life ceased) 3) In fact, it appears that the teachers of English teach English so poorly largely because they teach grammar so well. 4) The child is father of the man. (Wordsworth)Figures of Speech (14)12. Oxymoron (矛盾修饰法) A compressed paradox, formed by the co

38、njoining of two contrasting, contradictory or incongruous terms. 1) bitter-sweet memories 2) orderly chaos 3) the wisest fool in Christendom 4) living deaths 5) freezing fires 6) glorious defeat 7) poor rich guys 8) tearful joy An understanding of oxymoron can help us to appreciate more fully the im

39、plied complexity of descriptions and feelings. Like paradox, an Oxymoron initially surprises one with its incongruity of terms, which really hides a certain truth, or a significent point. As in paradox, the appreciation of an oxymoron comes from trying to find the hidden truth, the subtle significan

40、ce in otherwise conflicting images or ideas.Figures of Speech (15)13. Epigram(警句) A short, pithy statement in verse or prose, usually with a touch of wit, often antithetical. 1) Necessity is the mother of invention. 2) Experience is the name everyone gives to his mistakes. 3) Conscience is the inner

41、 voice that warns us that someone may be looking. (H. L. Mencken)4) The child is father of the man. (Wordsworth) (the intended meaning is that the actions of a boy indicate what kind of a man he is likely to become)Note: There may be some overlapping of an epigram and a paradox.Figures of Speech (16

42、)14. Apostrophe (顿呼) The turning away from the subject and the addressing of an absent person or a personified object or abstraction. The shift is both emotional and dignified, therefore most appropriate in serious and stately contexts.“You Heavens, give me that patience, patience I need!” (Shakespe

43、are, King Lear)2) “Envy, be silent and attend!” (Pope)Figures of Speech (17)15. Rhetorical question (修辞疑问句；反问句修辞疑问句；反问句) A question neither requiring nor intended to produce a reply but asked for emphasis. The assumption is that only one answer is possible. 1) Was I not at the scene of the crime? (L

44、esson 2, Book 1) 2) O Wind If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind? (Shelley: Ode to the West Wind) 3) but can you doubt what our policy will be? (Lesson 5, Book 1) 4) But, without even considering that threat, shouldnt it startle us that we have put these clouds in the evening sky which glisten w

45、ith a spectral light? (Lesson 3, Book 1)Figures of Speech (18)16. Irony (反语反语) 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 example: 1) Oh, how I love queuing up! (In fact, the speak

46、hates it.) 2) This diligent student seldom reads more than an hour per month. 3) “Generally speaking,” said Miss Murdstone, “I dont like boys. How dye do, boy?” Under these encouraging circumstances, I replied that I was very well, and that I hoped she was the same, with such indifferent grace that

47、Miss Murdstone disposed of me in two words, “Wants manner!” (C. Dickens: David Copperfield) (Here the word encouraging is used ironically, for the circumstances were not encouraging at all they were, in fact, discouraging, for Miss Murdstone had said she didnt like boys.)4) We are lucky. Its the oth

48、er side on the thirteenth of December. That makes us feel real good. (David Parks: G. I. Diary) (The writer means exactly the opposite of what he says. 13 is an unlucky number to most Westerners, and therefore they are definitely not lucky. And since on that date (December 13) they will land “on the

49、 other side” of the Pacific, in Vietnam, to fight in the Vietnam War, they dont feel good at all. In fact, they are all quite frightened at the prospect.)Figures of Speech (19)17. Sarcasm (尖刻讽刺) A cutting remark, a verbal sneer. Sarcasm pretends to disguise its meaning, but does not intend to be mis

50、understood.“Oh, youre really a great friend, arent you?” (addressed to one who wont lend the speaker 5 Yuan)He is very generous indeed. (referring to one who wont lend the speaker his dictionary) Wheres y go for it, man Jamaica? (Hopkins s cutting remark to McNair, the custodian, for not being quick

51、 enough with the rum. Jamaica is an island in the Caribbean, world famous for its rum.)Figures of Speech (20)18. Satire It generally refers to a piece of literary work prose, poetry, or drama and generally not to a single sentence. It uses ridicule to expose and to judge behaviour or ideas that the

52、satirist finds foolish, or wicked, or both; Swifts “A Modest Proposal” is a piece of satire. Figures of Speech (21)19. Ridicule (嘲笑) instance of being made fun of 1) Bryan mopped his bald dome in silence. Figures of Speech (22)20. Innuendo (暗讽) A mild form of irony, hinting in a rather roundabout wa

53、y at something disparaging or uncomplimentary to the person or subject mentioned. (hinting or implying a thing without plainly saying it)I do not consult physicians; for I hope to die without them. (meaning they are more trouble than help)1)During the last five years my cook has several times been s

54、ober. (meaning that he is always drunk) 3) “The weatherman said it would be warm. He must take his readings in a bathroom.” (David Parks: G. I. Diary) (The author is hinting at the inaccuracy of the weathermans weather report. The weather is cold, rather than warm.)Figures of Speech (23)21. Parody (

55、滑稽模仿) Using the words, thought, or style of an author, but by a slight change adapting them to a new purpose or ridiculously inappropriate subject; the imitation or exaggeration of traits of style so as to make them appear ludicrousBritannia rues the waves (Lesson 13) (parodying a well- known line,

56、“Britannia Rules the Waves”, of the famous British navy song “Rule, Britannia”) (See note 1 of Lesson 13)2) or will the game be played according to the usual industrial rules: from each according to his ability, to each according to his investment (paroding a Marxist saying: from each according to h

57、is ability, to each according to his need)Figures of Speech (24)22. Climax (层进；渐升) arrangement of phrases or sentences in ascending order of importanceSome books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested (Francis Bacon: Of Studies)1)Empire offered a few man a s

58、ource of profit, many men a sense of mission and, to the anonymous everyman of Europes slums, a sense of pride.Figures of Speech (25)23. Anti-climax (突降；渐降) The sudden appearance of an absurd or trivial idea following one or more significant or elevated ideas. Anticlimax is usually comic in effect.

59、突降是采用突然下降的手法使句意从严肃、深刻、重要等突降是采用突然下降的手法使句意从严肃、深刻、重要等等的概念中急转到滑稽、平庸、琐细等等的概念上从而造成一种等的概念中急转到滑稽、平庸、琐细等等的概念上从而造成一种语义上的大的反差而获得一种鲜明的、幽默的交际效果的辞格。语义上的大的反差而获得一种鲜明的、幽默的交际效果的辞格。需有两项或两项以上结构使语义能急转而下。需有两项或两项以上结构使语义能急转而下。For example: 1) The duties of a soldier are to protect his country and peel potatoes. 2) Seldom ha

60、s a city gained such world renown, and I am proud and happy to welcome you to Hiroshima, a town known throughout the world for its oysters. (Lesson 2, Book 1)Anti-climax (2)3) There is nothing more exhilarating to the nature-love than an early morning walk in the foot hill of the Himalayas. It lifts