高级英语第一册修辞Description.ppt

1、Description,1。Definition: Description is an art of translating what one sees or hears into words. It calls up images and impressions. From a descriptive passage, we may have a better understanding of what is familiar to us, or we may experience sth. new, sth. unexpected, or sth. unknown to us before

2、. The subjects of description are usu. concrete objects-persons, places, or things. But a description may also convey an impression, atmosphere or emotion. Generally, description is of two basic types: objective and impressionistic.,2。How to describe sth? When describe any subject, the writer must s

3、elect details relevant to his purpose, and focus on one dominant characteristic of the subject and describe only those features that contribute to that characteristic. 3. feature: Impressionist description is subjective writing. The feelings of the observer govern the details. Its purpose is not to

4、inform but to communicate feelings. It attempts to make readers feel rather than see. An impressionistic description fails when the writer fails to identify himself with is own emotion. Only when the writer has understood his own mood can he communicate that mood to his readers.,Description conveys

5、the sensations, emotions and impressions that affect a writer experiencing a person, place, object or idea. The writer describes what he sees, hears, smells, feels or tastes. And it often includes his emotional reactions to the physical sensations of the experience. Good descriptions depend on concr

6、ete and specific details. Even more important than concrete and specific words is the organization, the arrangement that a descriptive writer chooses, depending on the relation of the subject to the writer and the purpose of the writer.,4. Spatial order: Description is usu. organized and developed b

7、y space order. He first establishes a point of view, i.e. he takes a fixed position in space or a moving position through space and describes what he sees. He may even establish a mental attitude to his subject as part of his viewpoint. He selects details in some kind of logical order. Whatever arra

8、ngement you choose, present the details of your description systematically.,Spatial order is often used in a description. Logical order (inductive or deductive order) is used in an argument. Chronological order is used in a narration and exposition. Climactic (climax) order is used in a narration an

9、d an argument. 5. The main purpose of impressionistic description is to share with the reader a single dominant impression. The dominant impression may be a sense impression or an emotion. In writing emotional description, a writer tries to evoke in the reader his feelings about the subject. Therefore, he selects words rich in connotative meaning and appeals strongly to the senses. He is subjective and personal.,6. The text is a piece of subjective, impressionistic or emotional description. In the