FiguresofSpeech

FiguresOfSpeechInEnglishStylisticsSimile

Afigureofspeechinwhichonethingislikentoanother,insuchawayastoclarifyandenhanceanimage.Itisanexplicitcomparisonrecognizablebytheuseofthewordlikeoras.(ADictionaryofLiteraryTerms)

Simile

w

1.Origin:Latin,meaninglike

w

2.Comparativewords:like,as

w

3.Functions:describingshape,scenery;expressingemotions;explaining;vividdescription,makingeasytounderstand;creatinginterest.StructureofaSimileTenor+comparativeword+vehicleSubject+comparativeword+referenceExample:MyloveislikearedredroseTomisastallashisbrother(notasimile)TomisastallasaMaypole.(simile)TypeOne:likeLivingwithoutanaimislikesailingwithoutacompass.Marriageislikeabeleagueredfortress:thosewhoarewithoutwanttogetin,andthosewithinwanttogetout.TypeTwo:asAsfirmasarockAsmuteasafishAsstrongasahorseAsbraveasalionAsobstinateasacowAswhiteassnowAsblackasink/pitchAschangeableastheweatherAswetasadrownedratAsblindasabatAsfatasapigAsproudasapeacockAsfreshasaroseTypeThree:what

TwoPatterns:AistoBwhatCistoD.WhatCistoD,AistoB.TypeThree:what

Readingistothemindwhatexerciseistothebody.Thepenistoawriterwhatthegunistoafighter.

作家的筆猶如戰(zhàn)士的槍。.

TypeThree:what

Whatsculptureistoablockofmarble,educationistothesoul.

教育之于心靈猶如雕刻之于大理石。

Whatsaltistofood,witandhumoraretoconversationandliteratureTypeFour:thanAhomewithoutloveisnomorethanabodywithoutasoul.HehadnomoreideaofmoneythanacowTypeFive:andLoveandcoughcannotbehid.

愛情像咳嗽一樣是掩蓋不了的。Truthandroseshavethornsaboutthem.Kingsandbearsoftenworrytheirkeepers.Awordandstoneletgocannotberecalled.

說出去的話就像拋出去的石子，是收不回的。TypeSix:othersWhoistoblamebuthertyrantofafather.怪誰呢？只怪她那暴君般的父親。Adoctormusthavetheheartofalionandthehandofalady.當(dāng)一個醫(yī)生必須有獅子般的膽量和仕女般的巧手。Simile

O,mylove’slikeared,redrose,That’snewlysprunginJune:O,mylove’slikethemelodyThat’ssweetlyplayedintune.－RobertBurnsSimile

啊，我的愛人像一朵紅紅的玫瑰；六月里迎風(fēng)初開；啊，我的愛人像一曲甜蜜的歌；唱得合拍又柔和。

Thefirstlineofthepoemabove,O,mylove’slikeared,redrose,isasimile.Tocommunicatehisfeelings,thepoetinvitesthereadertoperceiveinhissweetheartsomeofthepropertiesofarose.Propertiesthismightincludearebeauty,freshness,scentedness,specialnessandrarity.Greenfly,thornsorblight,alsocommonpropertiesofroses,arelikelytoseemappropriatepointsofcomparison,bearinginmindwhatweknowofthecontext.Metaphor

Afigureofspeechcontaininganimpliedcomparison,inwhichawordorphraseordinarilyandprimarilyusedofonethingisappliedtoanother.(Webster’sNewWorldDictionary)

MetaphorAfigureofspeechinwhichonethingisdescribedintermsofanother.Thebasicfigureinpoetry.Acomparisonisusuallyimplicit;whereasinsimileitisexplicit.(ADictionaryofLiteraryTerms)Metaphor

Metaphors

areofteneasytoidentifyandtaketheformXisY.Somethingorsomeoneisbeingcomparedtosomethingorsomeoneelsethroughaconstructionusingtheappropriatepartoftheverbtobe(i.e.am,are,is,was,were,willbe).MetaphorEducationisnotthefillingofapail,butthelightingoffire.教育不是將桶裝滿水，而是將火點(diǎn)燃。Moneyisabottomlesssea,inwhichhonor,conscience,andtruthmaybedrowned.金錢像無底的海洋，將榮耀、良知和真理淹沒。Marriageisabookofwhichthefirstchapteriswritteninpoetryandremainingchaptersinprose.Alltheworld’sastage,Andallmenandwomenmerelyplayers;Theyhavetheirexitsandentrances,Andonemaninhistimeplaysmanyparts,Hisactsbeingsevenages…(Shakespeare,AsyouLikeit)Thefirstclausesetsupthebasiccomparison.Thetenorandvehicleinvokedbythefirstlineareelaboratedinthelinesthatfollow.Themetaphormakespossiblefortheliterarywritertoexplainthingsvividlyingreatdetail.

MetaphorTheboywolfeddownthefoodthemomenthegrabbedit.Somebooksaretobetasted,othersswallowed,andsomefewtobechewedanddigested.(OfStudies,Bacon)Shehasaphotographicmemoryfordetails.ThemountainouswavesswalloweduptheshipApolicemanwavedmeoutofthesnakeoftraffic.Metonymy(借代）Afigureofspeechthatconsistsinusingthenameofonethingforthatofsomethingelsewithwhichitisassociated.

(Webster’sNewInternationalDictionary)MetonymyDefinition:onethingforanother;associationw

MetonymyisGreekforachangeofname

Function:brief,vivid,interestingExample:Whatislearnedinthecradleiscarriedtothegrave(fromthecradletothegrave從生到死）Athousandmustachescanlivetogetherbutnotfourbreasts.千條漢子能共處，兩個婆娘難相容。

Thepenismightierthanthesword.Hekeepsagoodtable.(待客周到,以豐盛的飲食招待客人)Shehastheeyeforthefairandthebeautiful.Thewolfandthepigmingledtogetherinhisface.Chinawon4goldsand5silvers.WedroveaFordtoHydePark.MetonymyThisisthestrugglebetweenthekimonoandtheminiskirt.Itisapitythatthereismoreignorancethanknowledgeinthecountry.Shehasretiredfromthestagetoteach.Thegloriesofourbloodandstate,Areshadows,notsubstantialthings;Thereisnoarmouragainstfate;Deathlayshisicyhandonkings;SceptreandCrownMusttumbledownAndinthedustbeequalmadeWiththepoorcrookedScytheandSpade.(Shirley,TheGloriesofourBlood)

Inthispoem,fourmetonymsareused:Sceptre,Crown,Scythe,andSpade.SceptreandCrownarethingsthatkingsandqueenscarryandweartorepresenttheirpowerandauthority,andarethereforemetonymsforkingsandqueens.ScytheandSpadearethingsusedbypeasantsorfarmworkers,andarethereforemetonymsforpeasants.WhatShirleyistryingtosayisthatdeathcomestoallpeople,thenobleandthehumblealike.Theideawouldhavebeenexpressedmuchlesseffectively,ifmetonymshadnotbeenused.顯貴王侯全會倒毖，與賤民并肩齊埋在塵土之中。在這首詩中詩人借皇冠(crown)和君主節(jié)杖(sceptre)來代替顯貴王侯、君主貴族。借農(nóng)民常用的工具大鐮刀(scythe)和鐵鍬(spade)代表農(nóng)民大眾。詩人運(yùn)用借代這一修辭手段形象生動、簡潔地表達(dá)了一種不可抗拒的自然規(guī)律：無論是至高無上的君主，還是卑微的勞苦大眾在死神面前一律平等。Parody

(Pieceof)writingintendedtoamusebyimitatingthestyleofwritingusedbysomebodyelse.(OxfordAdvancedLearner’sDictionaryofCurrentEnglish)ParodyLiteraryormusicalcompositionimitatingthecharacteristicstyleofsomeotherworkorofawriterorcomposer,buttreatingaserioussubjectonanonsensicalmanner,asinridicule.

(Webster’sNewWorldDictionary)ParodyDefinition:imitationofwell-knownsayingsFunction:humorous,ironical,interestingExample:Parody

Ihavenooutlook,butanuplook.Myplaceinsocietywasatthebottom.我沒有人生觀，但我有“上爬觀”，我的地位在社會的最底層。ParodyAfriendinneedisafriendtobeavoided.難中的朋友是要躲避的朋友。這句話明顯是仿Afriendinneedisafriendindeed.而來的。ParodyItissaidJanehasfalleninlovewithJack.Yes,butshesaysshehadhesitatedforalongtimebeforeshefinallywalkedintolove.據(jù)說簡與杰克墜入了情網(wǎng)。是的，不過她說她曾經(jīng)猶豫了很長一段時間最后才步入情網(wǎng)。Reagan’sconductintheGovernor’sofficedidatleastdemonstratethathisconservativebarkoftencarriedlittlebitewhenhetackledthepracticalproblemsgoverninghisstate.(Time,April28,1980)里根在州長任上的行為至少顯示他在處理州里的實(shí)際問題時并不像他大叫大嚷的那些保守的調(diào)調(diào)厲害。barkoftencarriedlittlebite

是根據(jù)諺語Hisbarkisworsethanhisbite.(心地不如嘴惡)仿擬出來的?！癟winkle,twinkle,littlebat!HowIwonderwhatyou’reat!”“Youknowthesong,perhaps?”“I’veheardsomethinglikeit,”saidAlice.“Itgoeson,youknow.”theHattercontinued,“inthisway—Upabovetheworldyoufly.Likeateatrayinthesky.Twinkle,twinkle—”(l.Carrol,Alice’sAdventuresinWonderland)“一閃，一閃，小蝙蝠！我不知道你往哪里飛！”“你也許知道這首歌吧？”“我聽過相似的歌，”艾麗斯說，“你知道下面還有呢?！泵苯忱^續(xù)道“是這樣的——離開地面的你高高地飛翔像個茶盤在天上一閃一閃——”《艾麗斯漫游奇境記》中帽匠關(guān)于蝙蝠的歌明顯是仿擬英國詩人JaneTayor寫的著名兒歌TheStar的第一節(jié)：Twinkle,twinkle,littlestar,HowIwonderwhatyouare!Upabovetheworldsohigh.Likeadiamondinthesky.ParodyOriginal:Wherethereisawill,thereisaway.Imitation:Wherethereisawill,thereisarelative.ParodyAbirdinhandisworthtwointhebush：itisbettertobecontentwithwhatonehasthantorisklosingeverythingbybeingtoogreedy.(一鳥在手勝于二鳥在林）Ahusbandinhandisworthtwointhebush.

biteoffmorethanonecanchew:attempttodotoomuchorsomethingthatistoodemanding.(試圖做過多的事或太費(fèi)周折的事）Hemarriedabitmorethanhecouldchew.Astitchintimesavesnine(一針及時，可省九針）

Awordintimesavesnine.Tobeornottobe,that’stheproblem.(生存還是毀滅，這是個問題)Tolieornottolie—thedoctor’sdilemma.

Toerrishuman;toforgivedivine(人孰無過):Itishumannaturetosinandmakemistakesandthereforeoneshouldbeasforgivingaspossible.Toeatishuman;todigest,divine.PersonificationAfigureofspeechinwhichathing,quality,orideaisrepresentedasaperson.(Webster’sNewWorldDictionary)1.O,mylove’slikeared,redrose,That’snewlysprunginJune:O,mylove’slikethemelody

That’ssweetlyplayedintune.

－RobertBurns啊，我的愛人像一朵紅紅的玫瑰；六月里迎風(fēng)初開；啊，我的愛人像一曲甜蜜的歌；唱得合拍又柔和。

(王佐良譯）2.Kindnessisthegoldenchainbywhichtheworldisbound.(Goethe)

仁愛是聯(lián)結(jié)世界的一條金鏈。3.Theraintothewindsaid“YoupushandI’llpelt,”TheysosmotethegardenbedThattheflowersactuallykneltAndlaylodged—thoughnotdeadIknowhowtheflowersfelt.(RobertFrost)雨對風(fēng)說：“你來狂吹，我來猛落?！彼麄儌z就這樣在花圃上施暴虐于是花兒們便七歪八倒葉殘瓣破最后終于倒下了——盡管還奄奄一息活著我知道花兒們此時心中感受如何。例1是明喻，將愛人比作花朵，比作樂曲；例2是隱喻，將仁愛比作金鏈條，都是靜止的比喻。例3作為擬人格卻活潑得多，風(fēng)和雨都成了人，變成了冷酷、殘暴、以施虐為樂的人，風(fēng)和雨狂吹猛落直把花兒摧殘得奄奄一息。HowsoonhathTime,thesubtlethiefofyouth,stolenonhiswingmythreeandtwentiethyear!(Milton)時間，這個盜竊青春的狡猾的小偷，盜竊了我二十又三年飛去了。在十七、十八世紀(jì)的古典詩歌中，詩人們出于對神話和傳統(tǒng)的尊重，常喜歡把自然現(xiàn)象人格化。詩人按照傳統(tǒng)把Time比擬做人。PersonificationLove,freeasair,atsightofhumanties,spreadshislightwings,andinamomentflies.愛情，自由得像空氣，一見到人間的羈絆，伸展開他的翅膀立即飛開。Personification…h(huán)ereletthemlieTillfamineandagueeatthemup.(Shakespeare:Macbeth)讓他們?nèi)ト鲋e吧直到饑荒與瘧疾把他們都吃掉。饑荒與瘧疾都是可以置人于死地的，所以，用eatup把這些災(zāi)禍擬人化，是很貼切的。PersonificationAliecantravelhalfwayaroundtheworldwhilethetruthisputtingonitsshoes.

真理還來不及穿上鞋子，謊言已經(jīng)走遍了半個世界。

TheRoseandtheGardenerTheRoseinthegardenslippedherbud,Andshelaughedintheprideifheryouthfulblood,Asshethoughtofthegardenerstandingby——“Heisold—soold;andhesoonwilldie!”ThefullRosewaxedinthewarmJuneair,Andshespreadandspread,tillherheartlaybare,Andshelaughedoncemoreassheheardhistread,“Heisoldernow.Hewillsoonbedead!”Butthebreezeinthemorningblew,andfoundThattheleavesoftheblownRosestrewedtheground,Andhecameatnoon,thatGardenerold,Andherakedthemsoftlyunderthemold.AndIwovethethingtoarandomrhyme,FortheRoseisBeauty:theGardener,Time.(AustinDobson1840-1921)

玫瑰與園丁玫瑰花在園中綻開了她的蓓蕾，她訕笑著自恃著年輕嬌美，她笑那老園丁竟站在她身邊—“他已經(jīng)老了—老態(tài)龍鐘，很快便會命喪黃泉。在六月的暖風(fēng)中她盡量搖曳盛開，她燦爛地開放，開放，直到袒露心懷，她聽見老園丁的腳步聲便再次嘲笑：“他越來越老了，他老命難保！”可是上午的和風(fēng)不停地吹，結(jié)果發(fā)現(xiàn)玫瑰花的花瓣被吹落地上一片又一片，老園丁來時已經(jīng)到了正午，他把落花輕輕聚攏埋入泥土。我且漫將此事寫上我的詩箋，玫瑰雖美但園丁卻擁有時間。這首詩是詩人借物抒情，詩人感慨人間有些人妄自尊大、淺薄自傲、負(fù)心薄義，但若直接說出便成了乏味的說教，而用擬人的手法將花變成人讓花兒自己現(xiàn)身說法，十分巧妙地將詩人的心理感受轉(zhuǎn)移到花兒身上。PersonificationSlangislanguagethattakesoffitscoat,spitsonitshands,andgoestowork.Lazinesstravelssoslowly,thatpovertysoonovertakeshim.Australiaissokindthat,justtickleherwithahoe,andshelaughswithaharvest.OnomatopoeiaCombinationofsoundsinawordthatimitatingwhatthewordrefersto,like‘hiss’or‘boom’.Thestreamflowsthroughthewoods.Thestreamismurmuringthroughthewoods.Dasistartedlaughing.Dasistartedgiggling.Thedoorwaspushedopen.Thedoorcrashedopen.Heavyraindropsfellonthetent.Heavyraindropsbeganpitter-patteringonthetent.OnomatopoeiaDefinition:imitationofsound.Function:association,direct,vivid.Example:Thesnakehissed.Giggle,clap,patter,mew,rumbleOnomatopoeiaAturkrygobbles.火雞咯咯叫Awolfhowls/growls.狼嚎Asnakehisses.蛇聲咝咝Abeehums.蜜蜂嗡嗡叫Atigergrowls.老虎吼叫Asparrowtwitters.麻雀吱吱喳喳叫OnomatopoeiaAcockcrows.公雞喔喔叫Acricketchirps蟋蟀唧唧叫Acrowcaws烏鴉哇哇叫Ahorseneighs/whinnies/nickers.馬叫/馬嘶/馬鳴/馬蕭蕭Apiggrunts/squeaks.豬咕嚕咕嚕/哼哼叫Amousesqueaks/peeps老鼠吱吱/唧唧/啾啾叫OnomatopoeiaThetrainclatteredoutofthestation.火車哐唧哐唧駛出車站。Theclockticked,thefirecracked.鐘聲滴滴答答，火聲噼噼啪啪。Themanshutthedoorwithabang.那人砰的一聲把門關(guān)了。Thewindiswhistling.風(fēng)呼呼地響。OnomatopoeiaSoundfromnature:Murmur,babble,swish,patter,rumble,roll,rustle,zip,toot,tick,tinkle,screech,bang,bubble,clang,crack,splash,grumbleEuphemismTheuseofpleasant,mildorindirectwordsorphrasesinplaceofmoreaccurateordirectones.InoldGreek,‘eu’means‘well’or‘soundingwell’;‘pheme’meansspeech(說話).EuphemismDefinition:totalkaboutunpleasantthingsinapleasantway.Undertheweather.HardofhearingJoinone’sancestorsWashone’shandsLife生:Ugly丑：Homely,plain;Fat胖：weightwatcher,chubby,plumy,stout;Skinny瘦:slender,slim,willowy,svelteEuphemismDiseases：病LookoffcolourUndertheweatherNotallthereLongillnessEuphemism殘疾：DisabilityDisabledHandicappedInconveniencedVisuallyretardedEuphemismOld老:AdvancedinagePastone’sprimeFeelingone’sageGoldenageSeniorcitizenThelongerlivingEuphemismDeath死：GowestAtrestAsleepReturntodustPassawayGotoheavenHyperbole/OverstatementAnexaggeratedorextravagantstatementusedasafigureofspeech

(AmericanHeritageDictionary)Exaggerationforeffect,notmeanttobetakenliterally…

(TheWebster’sNewWorldDictionary)Extravagantexaggeration

(TheWebster’sNinthNewCollegiateDictionary)Hyperbole/OverstatementFunction:exaggeratethetoneCompare:Herandowntheavenue,makingaloudnoise.Herandowntheavenue,makinganoiseliketenhorsesatagallop.Hyperbole

OverstatementOnefatherismorethanahundredschoolmasters.It’sacrimetostayinsideonsuchabeautifulday.Themosteffectivewaterpowerintheworld–women’stearsAsfairartthou,mybonnielass,SodeepinluveamI,AndIwillluvetheestill,mydear,Tilla’theseasgangdry,

Tilla’theseagangdry,mydear,Andtherocksmeltwi’thesun!AndIwillluvetheestill,mydear,Whilethesandso’lifeshallrun.

Itisquiteobviousthatalltheseaswillneverbecomedryandtherockswillunlikelymeltwiththesun.However,wecannoticethatthespeakerhereisexpressingagenuinelyfeltemotion.Whathetriestosaytohisbelovedisthathewillforeverloveher.Thehyperbolicexpressionherestronglyemphasizethepromiseofundyinglove.

Forshewasbeautiful－h(huán)erbeautymadethebrightworlddim,andeverythingbesideseemedlikethefleetingimageofashade.－ShellyThehyperboleherbeautymadethebrightworlddimexpressesthespeaker’sgreatadmirationforthefemalefigure.Whatthepoetintendstosay,putinplainterms,isthatshewasextraordinarilybeautiful.Tobe,ornottobe:thatisthequestionWhether’tisnoblerinthemindtosufferTheslingsandarrowsofoutrageousfortune,OrtotakearmsagainstaseaoftroublesAndbyopposingendthem?...(Shakespeare’sHamlet)生存還是毀滅,這是一個值得考慮的問題；默默忍受命運(yùn)的暴虐的毒箭，或是挺身反抗人世的無涯的苦難，在奮斗中結(jié)束一切？……

Ahyperboleisoftenmetaphorical.Thephraseaseaoftroublesinlinefourisanexaggeratedaswellasmetaphoricwayofsayingthatitisagreatquantityoftroubles.Hamlet:IlovedOphelia:fortythousandbrotherscouldnot,withalltheirquantityoflove,makeupmysum.

哈姆雷特：我愛奧菲莉亞，四萬兄弟的愛集合起來也抵不上我的愛。Understatement(低調(diào)陳述)

Statementthatexpressedanidea,etc,tooweakly.（輕描淡寫地來陳述一種想法）

(AdvancedLearner’sDictionary)Understatement(低調(diào)陳述）Function:controlthetoneofspeaking

Overstatement:deliberatelymaximizingtheimportance;playup;highprofile

Understatement:deliberatelyminimizetheimportance;playdown;lowprofile1)正話反說：Thisproblemisnotaboveus.Heisamannotwithoutambition.

2）回避正面說法或不作正面回答IwishIcouldwritebetter.3）弱說代替強(qiáng)說

Mr.Liissomethingofaphilosopher.ParallelismThearrangementofanumberofrelatedideasofthesameimportanceinanumberofparallelorbalancedstructuresformsaintegratedwhole,inordertointensifyemotionandtoemphasizetheauthor’spoint.

ParallelismFunction:createrhythm,brief,compareandcontrastCivilizedmenarrivedinthePacific,armedwithalcohol,syphilis,trousersandtheBible.AnEnglishmanthinksseated;aFrenchman,standing;anAmerican,pacing;anIrishman,afterward.ParallelismTheycoulddescribeanentertainmentwithaccuracy,relateananecdotewithhumour,andlaughattheiracquaintancewithspirit.Readnottocontradictandconfuse;nortobelieveandtakeforgranted;nortofindtalkanddiscourse;buttoweighandconsider.ParallelismTheworldlistens.Theworldwatches.Theworldwaitstoseewhatwewilldo.Iamveryfondofthecompanyofladies;Iliketheirbeauty.Iliketheirdelicacy;Iliketheirvivacity,andIliketheirsilence.Parallelism

Womenwererunningouttothelineofmarch,cryingandlaughingandkissingthemengood-bye.(JohnD.Killens:“GodBlessAmerica”)

Theyriseoutoftheearth,theysweatandstarveforafewyears,andthentheysinkbackintothenamelessmoundsofthegraveyardandnobodynoticesthattheyaregone.－GeorgeOrwell,Marrakech

Itwasthebestoftimes,itwastheworstoftimes;itwastheageofwisdom,itwastheageoffoolishness;itwastheepochofbelief,itwastheepochofincredulity;itwastheseasonofLight,itwastheseasonofDarkness;itwasthespringofhope,itwasthewinterofdespair;wehadeverythingbeforeus,wehadnothingbeforeus;wewereallgoingdirecttoHeaven,wewereallgoingdirecttheotherway.

－CharlesDickensATaleofTwoCitiesForitisnotlightthatisneeded,buttire;itisnotthegentleshower,butthunder.Weneedthestorm,thewhirl-wind,andtheearthquake.Thefeelingofthenationmustbequickened;theconscienceofthenationmustberoused;theproprietyofthenationmustbestartled;thehypocrisyofthenationmustbeexposed;anditscrimesagainstGodandmenmustbeproclaimedanddenounced.－FrederickDouglassItisratherforustobeherededicatedtothegreattaskremainingbeforeus,thatfromthesehonoreddeadwetakeincreaseddevotiontothatcauseforwhichtheyheregavethelastfullmeasureofdevotion;thatweherehighlyresolvedthatthesedeadshallnothavediedinvain;thatthisnation,underGod,shallhaveanewbirthoffreedom,andthatgovernmentofthepeople,bythepeople,forthepeople,shallnotperishfromtheearth.

WhenItookuponthetombsofthegreat,everyemotionofenvydiesinme;WhenIreadtheepitaphsofthebeautiful,everyinordinatedesiregoesout;WhenImeetwiththegriefofparentsuponatombstone,myheartmeltswithcompassion;WhenIseethetomboftheparentsthemselves,Iconsiderthevanityofgrievingforthosewhomwemustquicklyfollow.

Ifyouprickus,dowenotbleed?Ifyoutickleus,dowenotlaugh?Ifyoupoisonus,dowenotdie?Andifyouwrongus,shallwenotrevenge?(TheMerchantofVenice)Theseedyesow,anotherreaps;Thewealthyefind,anotherkeeps;Therobesyeweave,anotherwears;Thearmsyeforge,anotherbears.(P.B.Shelley,SongtotheMenofEngland)MyHeartLeapsUpMyheartleapsupwhenIbeholdArainbowinthesky,Sowasitwhenmylifebegan;SoisitnowIamaman;SobeitwhenIshallgrowold,Orletmedie!TheChildisfatheroftheMan;AndIcouldwishmydaystobeBoundeachtoeachbynaturalpiety.

Inthispoem,thepoethassuccessfullyexpressedhisgreatreverencefornaturewhichgoesbeyondtheboundsofthepast,presentandfuture.Thethemeisthoughtoutchieflybytheparallelismwhichexistsinlines3,4,and5.Firstly,thesamenessofstructureimpliesthesamenessinmeaning.Thisshowsthatthespeakerhopesthathisresponsetoseeingarainbowremainsthesamethroughouthislife.Secondlyandmoreimportantly,theemotionalfeelingexpressedgetsstrongeraftereachjuxtaposedunit,reachingitsclimaxinthefinalparallelunit.Reinforcedbytheimperativemoodandthemeaningofthelinefollowingit,line5mosteffectivelyexpressesthespeaker’sstrongdeterminationforcontinuingtoholdadeeploveandrespectfornature.ContrastCowardsdiemanytimesbeforetheirdeath;thevaliantnevertasteofdeathbutonce…Letusnevernegotiateoutoffear,butletusneverfeartonegotiate.Menalwayswanttobeawoman’sfirstlove;womenhavemoresubtleinstinct;whattheylikeistobeaman’slastromance.ContrastAmothertakestwentyyearstomakeamanofherboy,andanotherwomanmakesafoolofhimintwentyminutes.Antithesis(對偶)Contrastofideasmarkedbythechoiceandarrangementofwords,e.g.Givemeliberty,orgivemedeath不自由，毋寧死。AntithesisFeature:contrastinmeaning,parallelinstructureKnowledgemakehumble,ignorancemakeproud.…thenegrolivesonalonelyislandofpovertyinthemidstofavastoceanofmaterialprosperity.AntithesisThelifeofthewolfisthedeathofthelamb.(對敵人的仁慈就是對人們的犯罪。)ShortaccountsmakelongfriendsLifecanonlybeunderstoodbackwards,butitmustbelivedforwards.Wherethere’smarriagewithoutlove,therewillbelovewithoutmarriage.－BenjaminFranklinIftheeconomystaysdown,canconservativesstayup?OxymoronTheyokingtogetheroftwoexpressionswhichareincompatible,sothatincombinationtheyhavenoconceivableliteralreferencetoreality.OxymoronFeatures:contradictoryinmeaningThecomplexityofthingsExample:Alivingdeath半死不活（不是：活著的死）Sweetsorrow憂喜參半（不是：甜蜜的悲傷）Proudhumility不卑不亢（不是：驕傲的謙卑）Cruelkindness害人的仁慈Oxymoron(矛盾修飾法)Adj.+N.creativedestruction,livingdeath,tearfuljoy,orderlychaos,etc.Adj.+Adj.coldpleasantmanner,sour-sweetdays,poorrichguys,etc.Adv.+Adj.dullybright,mercifullyfatal,falselytrue,wiselystupid,etc.V.+Adv.hastenslowly(=makehasteslowly),shinedarkly,groanloudly,etc.N.+N.love-haterelationship,thesoundofsilence,etc.OxymoronIt(NewYork)hasthepoorestmillionaires,thelittlestgreatmen,thehaughtiestbeggars,theplainestbeauties,thelowestskyscrapers.OxymoronAnhonourablemurdererifyouwill;FornoughtIdidinhate,butallinhonour.

－WilliamShakespeare,OthelloJuliet:Oserpentheart,hidwithaflow’ringface!Dideverdragonkeepsofairacave?Beautifultyrant!fiendangelical!Dove-feather’draven!Wolfish-raveninglamb!Despisedsubstanceofdivinestshow!Justoppositetowhatthoujustlyseem’st,Adamnedsaint,anhonourablevillain!

－WilliamShakespeare,RomeoandJuliet

Themajoragainpressedtohisblueeyesthetipsofthefingersthatweredisposedontheedgeofthewheeledchairwithcarefulcarelessness,aftertheCleopatramodelandMr.Dombeybowed.(DombeyandSon)Thesemanticclashisevenmoreapparentinthetwoantonymscarefulandcarelessness.Thegroupingtogetheroftheantonymsvividlyandunreservedlydemonstratesthepretenceandaffectednessofthemajor.PunPun:“alsoplayonwords—n.Anamusinguseofawordorphrasethathastwomeanings,orwordswiththesamesoundbutdifferentmeanings:Hemadethispun:‘Sevendayswithoutwatermakeoneweak’(=1week)”。

（LongmanDictionaryofContemporaryEnglish)PunThehumoroususeofaword,orofwordswhichareformedorsoundedalikebuthavedifferentmeanings,insuchawayastoplayontwoormoreofthepossibleapplications;aplayonwords.

(Webster’sNewWorldDictionary)Pun1.Thesamesound,butdifferentmeaningsYouearn

yourlivingandurn

yourdead.

謀生即筑墓。

(earn

yourliving

謀生，urn

yourdead火化死者）

Pun2.Thesamespelling,samesoundbutdifferentmeanings.ToEnglandwillIsteal,andthereI’llsteal.(Shakespeare:HenryV)

我悄悄地溜到英國就在那兒偷。Pun

Wemusthangtogether,orweshallallhangseparately.

（BenjaminFranklin)

我們必須緊密地團(tuán)結(jié)在一起，否則我們將被一個個地絞死。

Makeyoureveryhelloarealgood-buy.(aTelephoneAdvertisement)讓你的每一聲“哈羅”都真的物有所值。這則廣告，打電話第一句稱呼通常是“hello”而末尾通常是“good-bye”,那么每一次打電話從頭到尾都清晰，這個電話就確實(shí)買得好，good-buy與good-bye同音，一語雙關(guān)。BenBattlewasasoldierboldAndusedtowar’salarms;Butacannonballshotoffhislegs,Sohelaiddownhisarms.(Hood)本·拜脫是一個大膽的士兵習(xí)慣了戰(zhàn)爭的警報；但是一顆炮彈打斷了他的雙腿，他只得放下他的武器。詩中arms一語雙關(guān)：手臂、武器。Zeugma（軛式搭配）Afigureofspeechinwhichasingleword,usuallyaverboradjective,issyntacticallyrelatedtotwoormorewords,withonlyoneofwhichitseemslogicallyconnected.

(Webster’sNewWorldDictionaryoftheAmericanLanguage)ZeugmaAwordisusedtomodifyorgoverntwoormorewordsalthoughitsuseisgrammaticallyorlogicallycorrectwithonlyone.(TheAmericanHeritageDictionaryoftheEnglishLanguage)ZeugmaZeugmamakesonewordrefertotwoitemswhenitproperlyreferstoonlyoneofit