中学英语教材中修辞现象面面观A Free Talk on Rhetoric in Senior English Textbooks.doc

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1、A Free Talk on Rhetoric in Senior English Textbooks中学英语教材中修辞现象面面观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 Rh

2、etoric), “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

3、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 simil

4、es 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

5、with one to the other. For instance, Livingwithoutanaimislikesailingwithoutacompass. Some additional examples:ThefirsttimeIreadanexcellentbook,itistomeasifIhadgainedanewfriend.It was like stepping into a secret art museum, in which we were the only visitors.Mercy falls like the gentle rain from the

6、sky upon the earth.And there exit so many structures in English as follows:(as)firmasarock; (as)lightasafeather; (as)muteasafish; (as)strongasahorse; (as) clear as crystal, etc. 2. metaphor The metaphor, referred as condensed simile, is like a simile, also makes a comparison between two unlike eleme

7、nts, but unlike a simile, its implied rather than stated, such as Hereallyhasaheartofgold.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 avoiceofgold.Alltheworldsastage,anda

8、llthemenandwomenmerelyplayers. (WilliamShakespeare)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 o

9、r 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 d

10、og?” 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

11、 intense rhetoric effect, such as amountainofcoal, oceansofpeople, 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

12、knife and fork, enjoying every mouthful. He makes it seem as if this is one of the most delicious meals that has ever enjoyed.-Haveyouaskedyourbrothertodothedishes?-Yes,athousandtimes.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, o

13、r 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 additiona

14、l 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 an

15、d 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 gra

16、ce. 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 mea

17、ns 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)

18、; 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 emphas

19、is 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

20、 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

21、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. Som

22、e 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 t

23、wo 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 i

24、s 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 h

25、ills 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 c

26、haracter.”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 appro

27、priate 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.