A Free Talk on Rhetoric in Senior English Textbooks英语论文.doc

A Free Talk on Rhetoric in Senior English Textbooks Nowadays you can see rhetoric phenomena existing everywhere in the Senior English textbooks in circulation. Generally, grammar tells what is correct; rhetoric tells what is effective and pleasing. Just as Brooks & Warren say (Modern Rhetoric), “Rhetoric is the art of using language effectively”. Hence, its the most important stage for middle school students to master secondary English and form fundamental linguistic qualities. If anyone who knows English knows about some rhetoric styles, its not only of great help to distinguish all kinds of rhetoric phenomena of this language, but also good to improve the ability of analyzing representing skills in language and efficiently applying the language. Therefore, Id love to give a brief talk about some common figures of speech here. 1Simile The simile came from a Latin word similes which means like. It is a figure of speech which makes a comparison between two unlike elements having at least one quality or feature in common. In comparison, words like as, as.as, as if, like, seem and the pattern A to B as Cto D, etc. are used to change the quality or feature that we combine with one to the other. For instance, Living without an aim is like sailing without a compass. Some additional examples:The first time I read an excellent book, it is to me as if I had gained a new friend.It was like stepping into a secret art museum, in which we were the only visitors.Mercy falls like the gentle rain from the sky upon the earth.And there exit so many structures in English as follows:(as) firm as a rock; (as) light as a feather; (as) mute as a fish; (as) strong as a horse  (as) clear as crystal, etc. 2. metaphor The metaphor, referred as condensed simile, is like a simile, also makes a comparison between two unlike elements, but unlike a simile, its implied rather than stated, such as He really has a heart of gold.In front of me was a wall of animals.Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.The super-girls on TV are usually those with a voice of gold.All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players. (William Shakespeare)Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire. 3. Personification The so-called personification is to give human form of feelings to animals, or life and personal attributes to lifeless objects, that is, to impersonate animals or objects without life. If well applied, it will make the language you use strong and lively. For instance, the wind whistled through the trees. Some additional examples:The sun kissed the green fields.Necessity is the father of invention.Slowly it turned its face and looked at Mrs Cousins. “Me? A dog?” it seemed to say with its strong body and sharp white teeth. 4. Hyperbole Hyperbole came from a Greek word hyperbole, meaning to exceed, which was a rhetoric way of deliberate overstatement or exaggeration. Its feature is a sort of anti-nous or illogical exaggerative account so as to obtain the intense rhetoric effect, such as a mountain of coal , oceans of people , a world of books, etc. And some additional examples:Let me take you in my arms and say goodbye, I love you more than my own life, more than my wife, and more that all the world.Chaplin sits down at the table and eats the shoe with a knife and fork, enjoying every mouthful. He makes it seem as if this is one of the most delicious meals that has ever enjoyed.-Have you asked your brother to do the dishes?-Yes, a thousand times.The poor man because rich overnight.The old man lived a year in a minute 5. Pun It is also called a play on words, or rather a play on the form and meaning of words. It can be classified into two parts: homographic pun and homophonic pun. It is a commonly humorous device that is widely used, especially in daily English and ads. For example, A cannon-ball took off his legs, so he laid down his arms. Some additional examples:(1)- Waiter! Will the pancakes be long?- No, sir. Round. (2)- Whats wrong with these eggs? - Dont ask me, sir. I only laid the table.A Mars a day keeps you work, rest and play. This chocolate ad reminds people of two familiar proverbs: An apple a day keeps the doctors away and All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. 6. Alliteration Alliteration is a device that repeats the same head sound or head letter at frequent intervals, for the sound or letter repeated is usually the initial consonant sound, so it is also called front rhyme. Its commonly used to strengthen the literary grace. For instance, a particular, persistent reason; daily pursuit and pleasure; a mixture of public and private events; etc. Some additional examples:He is all fire and fight.My love is like a red red rose.Far fowls have fair feathers. 7. Euphemism Euphemism is a word from Greek euphemismos，which means good speech. It is the substitution of an agreeable or refined expression for one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant. It can be sorted into traditional euphemisms and stylistic euphemisms. The former relates to taboo while the latter flattery or fair words, such as the Big C (cancer); go to sleep forever（die）; social disease（the Aids）; senior citizens ( old people); pass away ( die); etc. Some additional examples:I feel under the weather today.He is a bicycle doctor.Nowadays many weight-watchers would like to go to the gym. 8. Irony Irony a figure of speech to accomplish emphasis by saying the opposite of what is meant, the intended meaning of the words being the opposite of their usual sense. It derives from Greek eirnei，meaning dissimulation. This rhetoric approach can effectively achieve the aims of humour, tickling, ridicule or taking out dissatisfaction, like Oh, you havent? Some additional examples:Well, of course, I know that gentlemen like you carry only large note. There is no easy job in language learning.You are telling stories！ We are lucky, what you said makes me feel real good. 9. Onomatopoeia Onomatopoeia is a device to simulate the sound or voice of objects (animate or inanimate) by using words. But in English onomatopoeia concurrently has two functions: to simulate sound and to show actions. Onomatopoeia basically means a word that has sound. They are useful in descriptions and poems. For example, The stream is murmuring through the woods. Some additional examples:The fire crackles on the fireplace. A fly buzzed past. Denis Dragon is snoring zzz.10. Parallel construction Parallelism, deriving from the Greek word parallelismos with the meaning “along one another”, is a rhetorical device, that is, its a special structural sequence to put two or more than two relevant or same words or phrases or sentences in meaning, arrangement and syntax function into bunchy arrangement so as to express a congeneric behaviour, thinking or notion. This figure of speech is widely used in English poems, novels, prose, dramas and speeches. Parallelism is often applied in essays between words, phrases or sentences. For example, We can gain knowledge, by reading, by reflection, by observation or by practice.  Some additional examples:The world listens. The world watches. The world waits to see what we will do.“I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slavers and the sons of former slaver-owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but the content of their character.”I love sailing on the lake. Its so refreshing to feel the wind in my hair and water on my face. As is well-known to all, the key effect of rhetoric is the perfection of linguistic expression. The figure of speech will make your essays more lively, more brilliant and more touching. The appropriate application of rhetoric is of great help in not merely understanding the texts, arousing learning interest and moulding ideological sentiment, but also fostering preliminary appreciative ability and aesthetic judgement and enhancing humanistic equality, which is the essence of the quality education in English. 中学英语教材中修辞现象面面观王光照 深圳实验学校高中部英语谚语警句100句精选Proverbs are the daughters of daily experience.谚语是日常经验的结晶。1. Look before you leap./Second thoughts are best. 三思而后行。/再想而后行。2. Great minds think alike; (heroes have similar views.) 英雄所见略同。 3. We shall never have friends if we expect to find them without fault.欲求完美无缺的朋友必然成为孤家寡人。4. What you sow, you must mow. 种瓜得瓜，种豆得豆。5. A beggar can never be bankrupt.天无绝人之路。6.A friend in need is a friend indeed.患难见真情。7. No news is good news. 没有消息就是好消息。8. No cross, no crown. 不经历风雨,怎么见彩虹。9. The more haste, the less speed. /Haste makes waste.欲速则不达。10. Victory belongs to the most persevering. 坚持就是胜利！11. A young idler, an old beggar. 少壮不努力，老大徒伤悲。12. Put ones foot in ones mouth. 说话不得体。13. It is no use crying over spilt milk.覆水难收/悔恨已晚/木已成舟,回天乏力。14. Content is better than riches. 知足常乐。15. No gains without pains. 没有辛苦就没有收获。16. The more a man knows, the more he is inclined to be modest. 大智若愚。17. All roads lead to Rome .条条大路通罗马。18. A snow year, a rich year. 瑞雪兆丰年。19. Never say die! 永不言败！20. The best mirror is a friends eye. 朋友的眼睛是最好的镜子。 21. Faith will move mountain. 精诚所至，金石为开。 22. A life without a friend is a life without a sun. 人生没有朋友，犹如生活没有了太阳。 23. Great wits have short memories.贵人多忘事。 24. Do well and have well. 善有善报。25. A bad thing never dies. 坏事传千年。26. Four eyes see more than two. 人多识广/集思广益。27. Diligence is the parent of success. 勤劳是成功的根本。28. Water dropping day by day wears the hardest rock away.滴水穿石。29. Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. 抱最好的愿望，做最坏的打算。 30. While there is life, there is hope. /Debt is better than death. 留得青山在，不怕没柴烧。/有生命就有希望。31. Where there is a will, there is a way. 功夫不负有心人。/有志者事竟成。32. Where there is great love, there are always miracles. 哪里有真爱存在，哪里就有奇迹。33. Where there is smoke, there is fire. 无风不起浪。34. One boy is a boy, two boys half a boy, three boys no boy.一个和尚挑水喝，两个和尚抬水喝，三个和尚没水喝。35. A stitch in time saves nine. 及时缝一针能省九针。/小洞不补，大洞吃苦。36. Never too old to learn, never too late to turn. 亡羊补牢，为时不晚。37. Dont claim to know what you dont know. 不要不懂装懂。38. Do in Rome as Roman do. 入乡随俗。39. Rome was not built in a day. 冰冻三尺，非一日之寒。40. Sharpening your axe will not delay your job of cutting wood. 磨刀不误砍柴工。 41. Things of a kind come together, people a mind fall into a group. 物以类聚,人以群分。 42. One mans meat is another mans poison. 萝卜白菜,各有所爱。43. like author like book.文如其人。46. Like for like. 惺惺相惜。47. Like teacher like pupil. 有其师必有其徒。48. Gods that run many hares kill none.贪多必失。49. Practice makes perfect. 熟能生巧。50. Actions speak louder than words. 行胜于言。51. You cannot eat your cake and have it. 鱼与熊掌，不可兼得。52. One loses by pride and gains by modesty. 满招损,谦受益。53. Love me, love my dog. 爱屋及乌。54. An apple a day keeps the doctor away. 每日一苹果远离医生。55. Time past cannot be called back again. 时光不倒流。56. A drop of water cannot make a sea, and a tree cannot make a wood. 滴水不成海，独木不成林。57. If you venture nothing, you will have nothing. 不入虎穴,焉得虎子。58.The tree is known by its fruit. 观其行知其人。59. All work no play makes Jack a dull boy. 只会用功不玩耍,聪明的孩子也变傻。60. The pot calls the kettle black. 五十步笑百步。61. Unkindness often reacts on the unkind person. 恶有恶报。62. Todays work should never be left over till tomorrow. 今日事今日毕。63. Nothing so bad but might have been worse. 塞翁失马,焉知非福。 64. God helps those who help themselves. 自助者天助。65. Complacency is the enemy of study. 学习的敌人是自己的满足。66. A fox may grow gray, but never good.江山易改，本性难移。67. A friend without faults will never be found. 没有十全十美的朋友。68. A good beginning is half done. 良好的开端是成功的一半。69. A good book is the best of friends, the same today and forever. 一本好书，相伴一生。70. A good medicine tastes bitter. 良药苦口。71. A leopard cannot change its spots.积习难改。72. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. 一知半解，自欺欺人。73. All good things come to an end. 天下没有不散的筵席。74. Justice has long arms. 天网恢恢，疏而不漏。75A man becomes learned by asking questions. 不耻下问才能有学问。76. A man can do no more than he can. 凡事都应量力而行。77. A man cannot spin and reel at the same time. 一心不能二用。78. Diamond cuts diamond. 强中自有强中手。79. Doing is better than saying. 与其挂在嘴上，不如落实在行动上。80. Do it now. 机不可失，时不再来。81. It is the unforeseen that always happens. 天有不测风云，人有旦夕祸福。82. Don't put off till tomorrow what should be done today.今日事，今日毕。83. Do well and have well. 善有善报。84. Easy come, easy go. 来也匆匆，去也匆匆。85. Every advantage has its disadvantage.有利必有弊。86. Every day is not Sunday. 好景不常在。87. Every man has his faults. 金无足赤，人无完人。88. Every man has his weak side. 人人都有弱点。89. Every potter praises hit pot. 王婆卖瓜，自卖自夸。90. Experience must be bought. 吃一堑，长一智。91. Far from eye, far from heart. 眼不见，心不烦。92. First come, first served. 先来后到。93. Judge not from appearances.人不可貌相，海不可斗量。94. Gold will not buy anything.黄金并非万能。95. He laughs best who laughs last.谁笑到最后，谁笑得最好。96. He who makes no mistakes makes nothing. 想不犯错误，就一事无成。97. Learn not and know not. 不学无术。98. It is never too old to learn. 活到老，学到老。 99. It takes three generations to make a gentleman.十年树木，百年树人。100. It is the first step that costs troublesome. 万事开头难。