英语中常用的修辞手法

1、Figures of Speech (1),Figures of speech are forms of expression that depart from normal word or sentence order or from the common literal meanings of words, for the purpose of achieving a special effect. In everyday speech and writing and in literature the chief functions of figures of speech are pr

2、obably to embellish, to emphasize or to clarify. They are used to give tone or atmosphere to discourse, to provide vivid examples to stimulate thought by startling the reader or listener, to give life to inanimate objects, to amuse, or to ornament. Figures of speech exist in almost endless variety a

3、nd many are closely related or intricately overlap, hence no completely satisfactory system of classification has ever been devised. The following are some commonly used ones:,Figures of Speech (2),simile metaphor personification metonymy Synecdoche Antonomasia euphemism Hyperbole litotes Antithesis

4、 Paradox 12. Oxymoron 13. Epigram Apostrophe rhetorical question,16. Irony 17. Sarcasm 18. Satire 19. Ridicule 20. Innuendo 21. Parody 22. Climax 23. Anti-climax 24. Alliteration 25. Assonance 26. Onomatopoeia 27. Transferred epithet 28. Pun 29. Parallelism 30. Repetition,Figures of Speech (3),1. Si

5、mile (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like, as 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。( 本体: tenor; 喻体: vehicle) 1) As cold waters to

6、 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.,simile,More examples: A word and a stone let go cannot be recalled. Love and cough cannot

7、 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.),Fig. 2,Figures of Speech (4),2. Metaphor(暗喻) The substitution of

8、 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 most beautiful

9、. 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.,Metaphor (2), A metaphor, to be effective, has to have three properties, viz., a) freshness and originality, b) aptness and

10、c) 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 whe

11、n 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.,Metaphor (3),e.g. The seeds of rebellion were kindled in secret. () (Here the metaphors are not consistent. O

12、ne metaphor compares 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

13、illogical imagery, 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.),Metaphor (4),Below is an example of how three sets of metaphors are blended Skillfully together to ill

14、ustrate the difficulty of editing 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 l

15、ibrary was a landmark, and 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) of excess verbiage which clung t

16、o the manuscript. (S.T. Williamson: “How to Write Like a Social Scientist”) (1st set: plunge-get lost-landmark- guide 2nd set: forest- trees- underbrush- lumber-burdocks 3rd set: weapons- batteries- armor- cutting through- removal ),Fig. 2,Figures of Speech (5),3. Personification (拟人) A figure of sp

17、eech that gives human form or feelings to animals, or life 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 verb

18、s. the kettle sings; the waves danced 3) That produced by the use of nouns. the smiles of spring; the whisper of leaves,Personification (2),More 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

19、staring us in the face. c) This time fate was smiling to him. d) Dusk came stealthily. e) The storm was raging and an angry sea was continuously tossing their boat. f) The wind whistled through the trees.,Fig. 2,Figures of Speech (6),4. Metonymy (换喻，转喻) The substitution of the name of one thing for

20、that of another with which it is closely associated. For example: 1) The pen is mightier than the sword. 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

21、 from names of persons, form animals, professions, locations or place names, etc., as illustrated below:,Metonymy (2),A. Names of persons a) John Bull: England, or the English people b) Uncle Sam: The United States of America B. Animals the bear: the former Soviet Union or the Soviet government C. P

22、arts of the body a) heart: feelings or emotions b) head, brain: wisdom, intelligence, reason e.g. Her heart 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 reporters E. Locations of government, of

23、 business or industrial enterprises a) Downing Street: the British government or cabinet b) The White House: 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)

24、 Foggy Bottom: U.S. State Department,Fig.2,Figures of Speech (7),5. Synecdoche (提喻) A. the naming of a part to mean the whole. For 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 m

25、ade. 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 man.) D. the naming of an individual for a class. e.g. He is the Newton of this century.,Fig. 2,Figures of Speech (8),Antonomasia (换称): The term for some common figurative

26、 uses of names the 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; the Boss for the name of the employer The use of a proper name instead of a common noun a Judas for a traitor He is our Gorky. Gorky for a

27、famous writer Cf. synecdoche. There is a certain degree of overlapping here.,Fig. 2,Figures of Speech (9),7. Euphemism (委婉语) The substitution of an agreeable or inoffensive expression for one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant. e.g. “true words” the “gilded words” A. Death, Illness, Old

28、 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 emotionally disturbed; soft in the head; simple-minded fat people weight- watchers (The motive for the euphemisms in this case seems t

29、o be to avoid hurting peoples feelings.),Euphemism (2),B. Toilet Habits, etc. go to the toilet visit the necessary; answer natures call; do ones business; go to the bathroom (The motive here, obviously, is to avoid using the true words which are considered crude and indecent in polite conversation.)

30、 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 *sub-standard housing (the euphemisms used by the poor themselves are to “soften” harsh reality, but the terms marked *

31、often used by,Euphemism (3),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 low social standing hairdresser beautician; hair-stylist; hair-designer undertaker mortician manicurist a

32、 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 status. It reflects a sense of inferiority as well as a striving for “better things”.),Euphemism (4),E. P

33、olitical 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 inhabitants away pacification shelling or bombing of ones own troops ( or allied troops) accide

34、ntal 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.),Fig. 2,Figures of Speech (10),8. Hyperbole(夸张) A conscious exaggeration for the sake of emphasis, n

35、ot 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.,Fig. 2,Figures of Speech (11),9. Litotes ( 曲言；含蓄渲染) A form of understatement (轻描淡写，降调陈述) which gains its particular effect by

36、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.,Fig. 2,Figures of Speech (12),10. Antithesis (对照、对仗) The setting of contrasting phrases opposite each other for emphasis.

37、 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 consists in concealing how much we think of ourselves and how little we

38、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 explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which

39、 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 do, for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and split asund

40、er. 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.,Fig. 2,Figures of Speech (13),11. Paradox (反论；似非而是的隽语) a statement that appears to b

41、e 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 things occurred in her life before that life ceased) 3) In f

42、act, 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),Fig. 2,Figures of Speech (14),12. Oxymoron (矛盾修饰法) A compressed paradox, formed by the conjoining of two contrasting, contradictory or inco

43、ngruous 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,Oxymoron(2),An understanding of oxymoron can help us to appreciate more fully the implied complexity of descriptions and f

44、eelings. 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 significance in otherwise conflicting images or

45、ideas.,Fig. 2,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 voice that warns us that som

46、eone 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.,Fig. 2,Figures of Speech (16),14. Apostrophe (顿

47、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!” (Shakespeare, King Lear) 2

48、) “Envy, be silent and attend!” (Pope),Fig. 2,Figures of Speech (17),15. Rhetorical question (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? (Lesson 2, Book 1)

49、 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 with a spectral l

50、ight? (Lesson 3, Book 1),Fig. 2,Figures of Speech (18),16. Irony (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 hates it.

51、) 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 Miss Murd

52、stone disposed of me in two words, “Wants manner!” (C. Dickens: David Copperfield),Irony (2),(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 o

53、ther 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 t

54、he 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.),Fig.2,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

55、 to be misunderstood. “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

56、 being quick enough with the rum. Jamaica is an island in the Caribbean, world famous for its rum.),Fig. 2,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 behavio

57、ur or ideas that the satirist finds foolish, or wicked, or both; Swifts “A Modest Proposal” is a piece of satire.,Fig. 2,Figures of Speech (21),19. Ridicule (嘲笑) instance of being made fun of 1) Bryan mopped his bald dome in silence.,Fig. 2,Figures of Speech (22),20. Innuendo (暗讽) A mild form of iro

58、ny, hinting in a rather roundabout way 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) During the last five years my cook has several times been sober. (meaning that he is always drunk),Innuendo (2),3) “The weatherman said it would be warm. He must take his readings in a bathroom.” (David Parks: G. I. Diary) (T