1、an introduction to figures of speech(修辭格) rhetorical devices(修辭手法)1. simile(明喻)simile is an expression of comparison between two different things. it is usually introduced by “as” or “l(fā)ike”, and sometimes also by “asas/asso”, and “resemble” as the signs of comparison.明喻就是打比方，指一事物像另一事物的修辭格。常用的比喻詞有“as

2、” or “l(fā)ike”, and sometimes also by “asso /asas”, and “resemble”等1). mercy drops as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath.shakespeare2). the cheque fluttered to the floor like a bird with a broken wing. 3). self-criticism is as necessary to us as air to water.4). as a man whispers, so th

3、e breeze makes a low, hissing sound.5) learning resembles scaling the heights.2. metaphor(隱喻/暗喻)metaphor contains an implied comparison, in which a word or phrase ordinarily or primarily used of one thing is applied to another. in other words, it calls one thing by the name of another or one thing i

4、s described in terms of another.隱喻是一種隱含著比喻的修辭格，它直接把一種事物比為另一種事物，不用比喻詞，通常比較含蓄。1). the imperialists and all reactionaries are paper tigers.(all reactionaries and paper tigers are two entirely different things, but they are surprisingly alike in one respect: in appearance they both look strong and terri

5、ble, but in fact they are weak and can be easily crushed and defeated.)2). the night had a thousand eyes.(we think of the stars as if they were the eyes of a human being, and this produces a beautiful picture.)3). there was a stormy discussion at our last meeting.4). the sunshine of happiness is mad

6、e up of very little beams5). all the world a stage, and all the men and women merely players. (shakespeare)6). because of his wealth, he was a fountain of generosity to his relatives and friends.3. personification(擬人)personification is a figure of speech in which a thing, quality, or idea is represe

7、nted as a person.擬人是把物當作人來描寫的一種修辭格。它變無靈為有靈，使表現(xiàn)對象栩栩如生、活靈活現(xiàn)。1). the anger of the tempest.2). the whisper of the leaves.3). look at the smiling moon. how bright she is!4). the thirsty soil drank in the rain.5). none preaches better than the ant, and she says nothing. 6). liberty veiled her face, while

8、the tyrant spoke. 4. metonymy(借代/轉(zhuǎn)喻/換喻)metonymy means a change of name. the thing spoken of and the thing meant may be wholly unlike, but the relation between them is such that the mention of one suggests the other. 轉(zhuǎn)喻是指用一名稱來指代與之密切相關(guān)的事物。1). the kettle (=the water in the kettle) is boiling.2). the mo

9、ther did her best to take care of the cradle. (=her baby)3). he succeeded to the crown in 1848. (i.e. became the sovereign ruler)4). the pen has more influence than the sword.(=those who use the pen have more influence than those who use the sword)5). he reads shakespeare. (= the works of shakespear

10、e) 6). nowadays no one can claim to scholastic attainments, without knowing darwin and einstein. (= the theory of evolution and the theory of relativity)7). after a days travelling we took a rest under the shade. (=the tree)8). many people love rosy cheeks.(= children)5. synecdoche(提喻/舉喻)synecdoche

11、is a figure of speech which consists chiefly in putting a part for the whole or the whole for the part, and which consists chiefly in putting the concrete for the abstract or the abstract for the concrete.提喻是指以局部代替全體或以全體代替局部，以抽象代替具體或以具體代替抽象的一種修辭格。1). the part for the whole1). how to earn daily bread

12、 by my pen was the problem. (= the necessaries of life) (b. shaw)2). the whole for the part2). china (=the chinese players) defeated japan (=the japanese players) in the mens world table-tennis championships.3). the concrete for the abstract3). it was the circumstances that developed the poet (= poe

13、tic talent) in him.4). the abstract for the concrete.4). he has done me many kindnesses. (= kind things)note: metonymy and synecdoche are essentially the same in principle, and therefore the distinction between these two figures is now regarded as of little practical value.6. hyperbole (夸張)hyperbole

14、 is a figure of speech which gently exaggerates the truth. in hyperbole, things are represented as greater or less, better or worse, than they really are.夸張是指在事實的基礎(chǔ)上進行夸大，用來抒發(fā)作者或說話人的強烈感情，表達自己的深刻感受。1). i havent seen you for ages. (while in fact it was only two weeks ago that you parted.)2). a lie can

15、travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes. 真理剛剛穿上鞋子，謊言就走了大半個世界。3). had cleopatras nose been shorter, the whole face of the world would have been different.（cleopatra “埃及艷后”， 美妙絕倫。她權(quán)利欲極強，先為凱撒大帝的情婦，后與安東尼結(jié)婚，安東尼失敗后，又欲勾引屋大維，沒有成功，隨以毒蛇噬咬自殺。此句夸張這個女人的容貌與世界面貌的關(guān)系。）4). the first l

16、ines of a long gypsy poem sing: “ when a woman loves a man, her body has the odor of a thousand apple trees in blossom. the long lashes of her eyes fan the fires of his heart to flame.” (konrad bercovici: the wisdom of the illiterate)12. euphemism(委婉語)euphemism is the use of a more agreeable word or

17、 expression instead of an indelicate(不當?shù)?, harsh(刺耳的), or depressing one.“委婉語”源自希臘語“順耳的話”，即用間接的言詞取代生硬語，亦即采用轉(zhuǎn)彎抹角和暗示的說法代替直截了當?shù)脑?，使說話溫和一些，幽默一些，避免不悅耳、不愉快或禁忌語。1). your statement is incorrect.(i.e. your statement is false.)2). he passed away at six that morning. (i.e. he died.)3). his relation with his wif

18、e has not been very fortunate.(i.e. he often quarrels with his wife.)4). he had opened his eyes with the sun at dawn, scratched, done his business like a dog at the roadside, washed at the public fountain.（破曉， 他隨著太陽的升起睜開眼睛，瘙癢，像狗一樣在路邊大小便，在噴泉旁邊洗洗臉。）(gibort highet: diogenes and alexander)13. onomatopoe

19、ia (擬聲法)onomatopoeia is the use of words to imitate a sound appropriate to the sense.1). the door banged after him.（把砰得關(guān)上）2). the rain pattered all night.（雨啪嗒啪嗒地下）3). a sharp rattle was heard on the window, which made the children jump.（格格聲）4). there were tinkling(叮當聲)of small bells and jingling(叮叮當

20、當)of big bells as the sledge glided on the smooth ice in the stillness of night.十、諷刺（irony）是指用含蓄的褒義詞語來表示其反面的意義，從而達到使本義更加幽默，更加諷刺的效 果。 well, of course, i knew that gentlemen like you carry only large notes. 啊，當然，我知道像你這樣的先生只帶大票子。 店員這句話意在諷刺這位穿破衣的顧客：像你這樣的人怎么會有大票子呢？名為“gentlemen”實則“beg gar”而已。 十一、通感（synest

21、hesia）是指在某個感官所產(chǎn)生的感覺，轉(zhuǎn)到另一個感官的心理感受。 some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed and some few to be chewed and digested. 有些書是應(yīng)當嘗嘗滋味的，有些書是應(yīng)當吞下去的，有少數(shù)書是應(yīng)當咀嚼和消化的。 書是“嘗”不出味道的，也是不能“吃”下去將其“消化”掉的。這里把讀書中的精讀和泛讀，閱讀欣賞與吸收知識的感受，用味覺功能和消化功能來表示，心理感受是如此逼真和奇特。 十二、頭韻法（alliteration）在文句中有兩個以上連結(jié)在一起的詞或詞組，其開頭的音節(jié)有同樣的字母或

22、聲音，以增強語言的節(jié)奏感。 how and why he had come to princeton, new jersey is a story of struggle, success, and sadness. 7. transferred epithet(移就)the transferred epithet is a qualifying adjective transferred from a person to a thing or from one thing to another.把修飾詞轉(zhuǎn)換位置，不再修飾應(yīng)該由它修飾的詞，而修飾一個本不應(yīng)該由它修飾的詞。1). he was

23、engaged in a dishonest calling.(他在忙于欺詐行當)(i. e. he was engaged in a calling, in which he was dishonest.)2). the patient lay all night on his sleepless pillow.(i. e. the sleepless patient lay all night on his pillow)3). he closed his busy life at the age of sixty.(i. e. he closed his life, during whi

24、ch he was busy.)4).this is the cheapest market in this country.(i. e. this is the market where the things are sold at the cheapest prices.) 5). hans shrugged a scornful shoulder.(i.e. hans shrugged his shoulder with showing contempt. )6). she has expensive tastes in clothes.(i. e. she has tastes in

25、clothes, the prices of which are expensive.)8. antithesis（對照/對偶）antithesis is an opposition or contrast of words or ideas in the same sentence. it is emphasized by contrasting one thing with another, as health with sickness, war with peace, riches with poverty. in this figure, verbs should be contra

26、sted with verbs, adjectives with adjectives, nouns with nouns, etc.對照（對偶）是把意義相反或相對的語言單位（詞語、從句或句子）排列在平行、對稱的結(jié)構(gòu)里，語義上形成互相對立或?qū)φ盏囊环N修辭格。1). flattery brings friends; truth brings foes. 2). knowledge makes humble; ignorance makes proud. 3). to read without reflection is like to eat without digestion.4). fals

27、e friends are worse than open enemies. 5). no bees, no honey; no work, no money.6). give me liberty, or give me death.7). speech is silver, silence is gold.8). not that i loved caesar less, but that i loved rome more. （不是我不愛凱撒，而是我更愛羅馬。）9. oxymoron(矛盾修飾法) oxymoron is a figure of speech which combines

28、 incongruous and apparently contradictory words and meaning for a special effect. it is formed by the conjoining of two contrasting, contradictory or incongruous terms. an understanding of oxymoron can help us to enjoy more fully the implied complexity of descriptions and feelings. 矛盾修飾法把兩個意思完全相反的詞或

29、詞組搭配在一起來形容一項事物，去揭示事物的矛盾性，造成一種出人意外、引人入勝的效果。這種修辭方法，語言簡練，富有哲理。1). painful pleasure.（悲喜交加）2). a victorious defeat.（勝利的失?。?). a thunderous silence.（此時無聲勝有聲）4). i despise(=look down upon) its very vastness and power. it has the poorest millionaires, the littlest great man, the haughtiest(=aggrogant) begga

30、rs, the plainest（=not beautiful, pretty）beauties, the lowest skyscrapers, the dolefulest(=very sad) pleasures of any town i ever saw. o. henry我最蔑視權(quán)貴，這里我曾見過最貧窮的百萬富翁，最渺小的偉人，最高傲的乞丐，最丑陋的美人，最低矮的摩天大樓，最無趣的樂事。歐亨利5). beautiful tyrant, fiend angelical,dove feathers raven, wolfish-ravening lamb,despised substa

31、nce of divinest show, just opposite to what thou justly seems,a damned saint, an honorable villain!美麗的暴君， 天使般的惡魔！長著鴿子羽毛的渡鴉，嗜殺成性的羔羊！神圣儀表下面的卑鄙本質(zhì)！正是你的外貌的對立面，該遭詛咒的圣徒，體面的惡棍！ 威廉莎士比亞10. climax (漸強法/層進法/遞進法)climax is a series of words, phrases, clauses or sentences arranged in order with increasing strength

32、 or importance. the climax is, if skillfully used, will promote force.漸強法（層進法、遞進法）修辭法是把一系列短語或句子用升級的手法按語勢的強度順序排列，所表達的內(nèi)容由淺入深，由小到大，由輕到重，由少到多，由弱到強，使語勢層層遞增，漸進到最高強度。1). i came, i saw, i conquered.2). one boy is a boy, two boys half a boy, three boys no boy.3). the audience smiled, chuckled, and finally ho

33、wled (哄笑).4). we could not find pigeons here, there, everywhere. 5). but in a large sense we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground.6). to educate yourself, you must read, study, observe, reflect, reason, and think. (m. f. burlingame)7). reading maketh a full man; confer

34、ence a ready man; and writing an exact man. francis bacon8). some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested. francis bacon11. anticlimax =bathos(漸降法/突降法/頓降法)anticlimax is the reverse of climax: i.e. the least important thought is put at the close. it is o

35、ften used in humorous writings. this figure is also called bathos漸降法是與層進法相反，作者所描寫的事物意義重大、深刻，本應(yīng)推向高潮，但突然卻轉(zhuǎn)入微不足道、平淡的瑣事，或荒誕的事物。即由大到小、從強到弱、從重到輕、從高到低降下來，與讀者或聽眾的預(yù)期不同或相反，使人啞然失笑，使嚴肅的內(nèi)容變得詼諧。1). o dear! o dear! what shall i do?i have lost my beau and lipstick too.哦，天啊！哦，天??！我該怎沒辦啊?我失去了我的情人，還失去了我的口紅。2). he lost

36、his empire, his family and his fountain-pen.（自來水筆）3).the duties of a soldier are to protect his country and peel potatoes.（戰(zhàn)士的職責是包圍祖國和剝土豆）4). seldom has a city gained such world renown, and i am proud and happy to welcome you to hiroshima, a town known throughout the world for itsoysters.14. paralle

37、lism(平行結(jié)構(gòu))parallelism is a figure which consists of a continued comparison of two or more similar objects, showing the points of resemblance and of difference. it is an extended antithesis.英語parallelism(平行結(jié)構(gòu))源于希臘語parallelismos, 意思是alongside one another(并排)，它是英語中最常見的修辭格之一，廣泛應(yīng)用于詩歌、散文、喜劇、小說及講演中。它是把結(jié)構(gòu)相同

38、或相似、意義相關(guān)或并重、語氣一致的語言分別平行并列在一起的一種修辭方法，能使讀者感到它具有語義豐富、音韻鏗鏘、句式勻稱等特點。1). with this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.(martin luther king: i have a dream)2). there is no reason for us to b

39、e enemies. neither of us seeks the territory of the other; neither of us seeks domination over the other; neither of us seeks to stretch out our hands and rule the world.(winston churchill: speech on hitlers invasion of the u.s.s.r.)15. pun(雙關(guān))pun is a play upon words that are similar in sound but d

40、ifferent in sense. it is seldom used except for jest. (笑話、俏皮話=joke)英語pun(雙關(guān))源自拉丁語paronomazein，意為“以不同的名稱稱呼”，它是使用同音異義詞或同形異義詞進行的一種幽默表達方式，該詞在句子里有雙重或更多的含義，可作不同的解釋，以造成一種滑稽、幽默的效果。莎士比亞、狄更斯、馬克吐溫、蕭伯納等都是運用雙關(guān)語的行家。1). he laid down his arms.(放下手臂 /stopped fighting=放下武器)2). eat our corn, youll smile from ear to ea

41、r.(from year to year=year after year; 保你笑得合不攏嘴)3). seven days without water makes one weak. (week)4). an ambassador is an honest man who lies abroad for the good of his country.16. paradox (雋語/僻論)（似非而是的雋語，或自相矛盾的話/看似矛盾其實正確的觀點）雋語/僻論是一種表面上自相矛盾、不合乎邏輯，實際上頗有道理、意味深長的修辭格。a paradox is a figure of speech cons

42、isting of a statement or proposition which on the surface seems self-contradictory, absurd, or contrary to established fact or practice, but which on further thinking and study may prove to be true, well-founded, and even to contain a succinct point. note: proposition見解、觀點succinct/(concise)言簡意賅well-

43、founded有道理的、有根據(jù)的a good example of a paradox is in this passage from shakespeares romeo and juliet, when juliet finding out who romeo is, expressing her feelings in this way:nurse: his name is romeo, and a montague,the only son of your great enemy. juliet: my only love sprung from my only hate. too e

44、arly seen unknown and known too late!prodigious birth of love it is to me,that i must love a loathed enemy. shakespeare note: prodigious(enormous/colossal)loathe(hate)colossal(extremely large)我所鐘情所至的是我唯一的世仇，早已相見不曾相知，而今相知已太遲！涌泉的愛浪噴自胸膛，愛之所以是不共戴天的世敵。莎士比亞1). more haste, less speed. (越急越慢) 2). the child

45、is father to the man. (兒童乃成年人之父)3). those who have eyes apparently see little.4). he who praises everybody praise nobody. 5). women were running out to the line of march, crying and laughing and kissing.17. zeugma (軛式搭配)zeugma is a figure of speech in which a single word, usually a verb or adjective

46、, is syntactically related to two or more words, with only one of which it seems logically connected.(syntactically: 在句法上)zeugma(軛式搭配)源自希臘文zengunai(用一副軛套上兩個牲口)，軛式搭配的形式一般是用一個中心詞（通常是形容詞、動詞或介詞）來搭配或修飾兩個或更多名詞，其中這個中心詞只能與一個形成自然搭配（合乎邏輯），而與另一個本來不能搭配（牽強搭配），不過巧妙地借助于前面那個正常的搭配，運用到后者的身上。結(jié)果不但不顯得牽強，反而具有更強的表現(xiàn)力。正如其名，

47、好像用軛把幾頭牲口硬套在一起拉車似的?？此朴蔡?，卻又能協(xié)調(diào)行進；看似強扭，卻又能產(chǎn)生強大的合力。1). he killed the boy and the luggage.(he killed the boys and destroyed the luggage.)2). your young rooster( a young officer with the plumed hat) has lost his fine hat and a great deal of his vanity.( rooster:雄雞/自負者; plumed: 有羽毛的)3). we ate a bun and a

48、 glass of milk.4). she opened the door and her heart to the homeless boy.5). ten minutes later, the coffee and commander dana of naval intelligence arrived simultaneously.6). i used to organize my fathers tools, my mothers kitchen utensils, my sisters boyfriends.過去我常為父親擺好工具，為母親擺好廚房用品，甚至安排姐姐與男朋友約會。18

49、. alliteration(頭韻)alliteration is the use of succession of words with the same initial letter or sound. the repetition of sound usually occurs at the beginning of the words, but sometimes at the middle or end of them. it is a mere device for impressing the memory or pleasing the ear.頭韻指連續(xù)重復(fù)靠近字詞的起頭輔音

50、，不一定是重復(fù)字詞的首字母。頭韻既簡潔明快，又富于表現(xiàn)力，還具有音樂性，是有效的傳達意思的語言手段，經(jīng)常用在詩歌、文章標題、影片名或廣告中。1). dumb dogs are dangerous.2). peter piper picked a peck of picked pepper.笛師彼得從泡菜里撿了一小塊辣椒。3). life is the lust of a lamp for the light.that is dark till the dawn of the day when we die.生命是盞燈，追求著光明，這光明實際是黑暗，直到我們死亡那天的黎明。(lust: pass

51、ionate)4). next to health, heart, home, happiness for mobile americans depends upon the automobile. 對于好動的美國人來說，幸福不僅取決于健康、愛情、舒適和溫暖的家庭，還取決于汽車。19. irony(反語)irony is a figure of speech in which the words of the speaker or writer seem to mean one thing, but in reality mean just the contrary. if your frie

52、nd has done something foolish and you make fun of him by saying “he is very clever.” then you are being ironical. irony is a disguised satire, so this figure is also called sarcasm.所謂反語，就是說反話，是一種富有幽默感或精妙的挖苦人的表達方法，其所用的詞語要表達的意義正與這些詞語的通常意義相反。在一定的語言環(huán)境中，運用反語更能引起注意，加深印象，產(chǎn)生特殊的效果。oscar wildes story “the dev

53、oted friend” is full of irony, and the story begins in an ironical tone:1). little hans had very many friends, but the most devoted friend was big hugh, the miller. indeed, the rich miller was so devoted to little hans that when he passed his garden he always picked a large bouquet of flowers or fil

54、led his pockets with plums and cherries if it was the fruit season.2). “could you wait a few days for the money? i havent any small change about me.”“oh, you havent? well, of course, i know that gentlemen like you carry large notes. ”(mark twain: one million pound bank-note)“我過幾天再付錢行嗎？ 我身邊沒有零錢?！薄鞍?，沒

55、帶零錢? 嗯，當然啰， 像您這樣的紳士是只帶大票子的?！?0. inversion(倒裝) 倒裝是指改變正常的主語、謂語、賓語序或狀語的位。常見的倒裝是為了著重描寫，把需要強調(diào)的句子成分移前，也有為了承接上文，把下句中與上句有關(guān)聯(lián)的事物移到句首。 1). from out of the forest rushed a tiger.2). came frightful days of snow and rain. he did not know when he made camp, when he broke camp. he travelled in the night as much as

56、in the day. jack london21. repetition(重復(fù))repetition is the use of the same word, phrase, speech sound etc. in a poem, speech etc. its purpose is for the speaker to make a deeper impression on the audience.重復(fù)是演講者為了加強語氣、強化語勢、抒發(fā)強烈感情、強調(diào)所要表達的觀點等，在詩歌或演講中連續(xù)或間隔重復(fù)使用同一單詞、短語或句子的修辭方法。yesterday the japanese gove

57、rnment also launched an attack against malaya.last night japanese forces attacked hongkong.last night japanese forces attacked guam.last night japanese forces attacked the philippine islands.last night japanese forces attacked wake islands.and this morning the japanese attacked midway islands.f. d. roosevelt22. litotes (曲言法/間接肯定法)曲言法是以反面之否定代替肯定之修辭格。litotes is a