figures of speech(1)

1、1figures of speechfigures of speech2Definition of Figures of SpeechlWords used in their original meanings are used literally, while words used in extended meanings for the p-urpose of making comparison or calling up pictures in the readers or listeners mind are used figuratively. lThere are various

2、ways of using words figuratively. They are called figures of speech.3Simile（明喻）l It is a comparison between two distinctly different things and the comparison is indicated by the word as or like. lExamples:l O my loves like a red, red rose.l Robert Burnsl That man cant be trusted. Hes as slippery as

3、 an eel.4Metaphor（暗喻）lIt is the use of a word which originally donates one t-hing to refer to another with a similar quality. It is al-so a comparison, but the comparison is implied, not expressed with the word as or like.lExamples:l The picture of those poor peoples lives was carved so sharply in h

4、is heart that he could never forget it.l There were a few lordly poplars before the house.5l The street faded into a country road with stragglingl houses by it.l All his former joy was drowned in the embarrass-ment and confusion he was feeling at the moment.More Examples:More Examples:6Personificati

5、on（擬人）lIt is to treat a thing or an idea as if it were human or had human qualities. lExamples: Youth is hot and bold, Age is weak and cold, Youth is wild,and age is tame. William Shakespeare 7More Examples:More Examples:lThe match will soon be over and defeat is staring us lin the face.lThis time f

6、ate was smiling to him.lThunder roared and a pouring rain started.lDusk came stealthily.lThe storm was raging and an angry sea was continu-ously tossing their boat.8Metonymy（轉(zhuǎn)喻）l It is substituting the name of one thing for that of an-other with which it is closely associated. Thus the cr-own can st

7、and for a king, and the White House for the American government, the bottle for wine or alcohol, and the bar for the legal profession.lExamples:l When the war was over, he laid down the sword and took up the pen.l His purse would not allow him that luxury.9SynecdocheSynecdoche（提喻）（提喻）lWhen a part is

8、 substitued for the whole or the whole is substituted for a part, synecdoche is applied.lExamples: l The farms were short of hands during the harvest se-ason.lHe had to earn his daily bread by doing odd jobs.lGermany beat Argentina 2 to 1 in this exciting footb-all match.10EuphemismEuphemism（委婉語）（委婉

9、語）lIt is the substitution of a mild or vague expression f-or a harsh or unpleasant one.lExamples: lto die-to pass away, to leave uslold people-senior citizenslmad-emotionally disturbedldustman-sanitation workerlinvasion-military action11IronyIrony（反語）（反語）l It is the use of word which are clearly opp

10、osite to lwhat is meant, in order to achieve a special effect.l Suppose you planned an outing on a certain day, ex-pecting it to be fine; but when the day came it was ra-ining heavily. If you said, What fine weather for an outing! you were speaking ironically.12Overstatement Overstatement and and Un

11、derstatement Understatement lIn overstatement the diction exaggerates the subject, and in understatement the words play down the mag-nitude or value of the subject. Overstatement is also called hyperbole.lExamples: l She is dying to know what job has been assigned her.lIt took a few dollars to build

12、 this indoor swimming p-ool.13Transferred EpithetTransferred Epithet（移就）（移就） An epithet is an adjective or descriptive phrase that serves to characterize somebody or something. A tra-nsferred epithet is one that is shifted from the noun it logically modifies to a word associated with that noun. When

13、 one says that he has had a busy day, one is using such a figure of speech. For it is the person, not the day, that is busy.14Transferred EpithetTransferred EpithetlExamples:lShe was so worried about her son that she spent seve-ral sleepless nights.lIn his quiet laziness he suddenly remembered that

14、str-ange word.lThe assistant kept a respectful distance from his boss when they were walking in the corridor.15OxymoronOxymoron（矛盾修辭法）（矛盾修辭法）lIn oxymoron apparently contradictory terms are com-bined to produce a special effect.lExamples:lThe coach had to be cruel to be kind to his trainees.lWhen the

15、 news of the failure came, all his friends sai-d that it was a victorious defeat.lShe read the long-awaited letter with a tearful smile.16AlliterationAlliteration（頭韻法）（頭韻法）lIt refers to the appearance of the same initial consona-nt sound in two or more words, such as proud as a p-eachcock and blind

16、as a batlAlliteration is often used in poetry to give emphasis words that are related in meaning: 17AlliterationAlliteration Wherefore feed, and clothe, and save, From the cradle to the grave, Those ungrateful drones who would Drain your sweat-nay, drink your blood? Percy Bysse Shelley 18AlliterationAlliterationlAlliteration is sometimes used in prose for the same leffectto join two or more related words. Eaxmples: I see also the dull, drilled, docile, brutish masses of the Hun soldiery plodding on like a swarm of crawli-ng locusts.19AlliterationAlli