英语常用修辞手法.pptx

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1、RhetoricRhetoric is an ancient branch of learning,founded by the Greek philosopher Aristotle(亚里士多德),so it has a history of more than two thousand years in Europe.At first it dealt with the ways of persuading people in conversation and speech.Later the emphasis gradually shifted from speech to writin

2、g.Generally speaking,rhetoric is the art of effective communication by means of language,or more simply,it is the art of expressing,by words,precisely what we mean.1第1页/共123页 Rhetoric and Grammar Rhetoric bases itself on grammar,but it is not grammar.Grammar deals with the mutual relations of words

3、in a sentence,while rhetoric deals with the choice of words and the sentence structures in composition.The former teaches us correct speech;the latter teaches us better speech.Grammar is pre-requisite(必要条件，前提)of rhetoric.2第2页/共123页 How to study Rhetoric The first step should be to learn to recognize

4、 the most commonly-used devices of expression and analyze the different effects they produce.To be able to do this,it will not be enough merely to listen to a few lectures or read some books on rhetoric.Reading good authors with great care is necessary.The study of rhetoric in theory should pave the

5、 way for its application in practice.3第3页/共123页 Chapter One.Figure of speech(修辞格；修辞手段)The value of figurative word(修饰性词汇的价值)Words used for what they suggest,in a sense not exactly literal,are called figurative expressions.When we call a distinguished person a star,the world a stage,or the moon the l

6、amp of night.We use the words star,stage and lamp of night not in their literal sense,but with a fanciful(想象出来的)application.Such language makes the thought more vivid and more striking,and therefore attracts more of the readers attention.4第4页/共123页 Almost every notional(表意的)word has both a literal a

7、nd a figurative sense.The verb invent in“paper was invented in China”and“Watt invented the steam engine”is used literally;in“When the teacher ask the boy why he had not come to the class the day before,he invented an excuse”,and“Jim often invents a story to amuse the children”.It is used in a figura

8、tive or unusual sense.When a student speaks of hammering away(连续敲打;刻苦钻研)at his algebra,or says that he has just squeezed(挤；压)through an examination in French,or that a date has slipped his 5第5页/共123页mind,he is using a figure of speech.The expressions noted are clearly more vivid than if he were to s

9、ay that he is studying hard at his algebra,or that he was barely passed the examination,or forgotten the date.The general sense is the same in either case,but the language in the former instance suggests a livelier and more picturesque conception of the facts,and therefore attracts and holds the bea

10、rers attention more certainly.Again,if we say “Imperialism is on its last legs”(奄奄一息；快要结束).We intend the expression on its(ones)last legs to mean near its death or end.Such a figurative expression will not 6第6页/共123页 only express the literal truth of what we said,but will,by effective language,creat

11、e a vivid image in the readers mind.Figures of speech are of great use if they are not used to excess(过度)and if they are not far-fetched(强词夺理的；牵强附会的).It would be bad taste to make every sentence figurative.Every figure we use must be natural and harmonious with the idea it is intended to suggest.It

12、should not be included in the sentence just to show ones ability to use it.A poor figure is much worse than a good literal expression.7第7页/共123页 Figures of speech are different kinds of figurative expressions.They are classified under three main headings,excluding minor figures.In this chapter the m

13、ost important kinds of figures are given under each heading for reference.At the present stage of our study we need not try to acquire the skill to use every one of them.It is enough that acquaintance with them should help us to appreciate good literature at present and to write better compositions

14、in the future.8第8页/共123页.Figure of Likeness(相似修辞格)1.Simile Simile is an expression of comparison between two different things.It is usually introduced by“as”or“like”and sometimes also by“asso”，“than”and“resemble”as the signs(标志)of comparison.The best similes are those in which persons or things unli

15、ke in most respects are compared because they have one point of likeness in appearance,qualities,or actions,or in the effects which they produce.An all-round likeness between two things will not offer a good simile,for the comparison is literal,not figurative.To say a weak old mule is like a dying h

16、orse does not give one any new idea about the mule.But when one says that 9第9页/共123页the capitalist system is like a dying horse,one is using simile to good effect.More Examples:The party is like the sun.The boy looks like his father.Below are some examples of simile:1.On National Day boys and girls

17、are as happy as crickets(蟋蟀).2.It is four degrees below zero this morning.The wind tears the flesh like a saw,cuts it like the blade of knife,stabs it like a poisonous needle,twists it like pliers(钳子)and burns it like fire.3.As a man whispers,so the breeze makes a low,hissing(发嘶声)sound.10第10页/共123页4

18、.Learning resembles scaling(攀登)the heights.Here are some sentences from Jane Eyre:1.“Hold her arms,Miss Abbot:Shes like a mad cat.”2.They had thrust(猛推)me upon a stoolMy impulse(冲动)was to rise from it like a spring.3I heard the rain still beating continuously on the staircase(楼梯)window,and the windo

19、w howling in the grove(小树林)behind the hall;I grew by degrees cold as a stone,and then my courage sank.11第11页/共123页Here the appearance of a girl is likened(把比做)to a very mad cat;the action of rising at ones impulse,to a spring;and the effect of cold,to a stone.Such figurative similes produced vivid,s

20、trong images in the readers mind.Note:The following expressions introduced by“like”and“as”are not figurative,but literal.(1)A cat is like a tiger.(2)A cat is as fierce as a tiger.12第12页/共123页练习 人们在说话、写作或文学作品中常使用一些修辞手段(Stylistic Devices or Figures of Speech)来说明问题，表示强调、渲染气氛、增加色彩等等，使表达形象化、使语言富有美感。修辞手段在

21、语体学中称为修辞格。修辞手段多种多样，可借助语音、语法或词法几种方式。这里主要介绍一些常用的词法修辞手段。一.明喻 Simile明喻表明本体（描述的对象）和喻体（用作比喻的事物）两种不同的事物之间的相似关系。常用（as,like,seem,as if(as though)）等喻词与另一种具有相同特点的事物加以相比，从而更生动、更形象地对该对象加以刻划，以增强行文的艺术表现力。明喻一般都可采用直译。13第13页/共123页1.His face was as grey as ashes.他的脸死灰一般白。2.Hes round and smooth and sharp.Hes more like

22、a spear than anything else.他又圆、又光、又尖，比其它任何东西都更象一支矛。3.I saw the master looking about him as if he wishes to impress upon his mind everything in the room.我看到教师在环顾四周，仿佛要把教室里的每一件东西牢牢记在心里。4.The hairs fell upon her,rippling and shining like a brown waterfall.头发披散在她身上，好象褐色的小瀑布，波汶起伏，光彩照人。14第14页/共123页5.It lo

23、oks like a terrible tiger.它看起来象一只可怕的老虎。6.He was like a cock who thought the sun had risen to hear him crow.他象一只自以为太阳升起来是为了听他唱歌的公鸡。7.Despair settled down like a heavy cloud.绝望的情绪象一片乌云笼罩着人们的心。8.It is a figure like a man.它象一个人的体型。9.Time flies like an arrow.光阴似箭。10.I wandered lonely as a cloud.我象一朵浮云象独自

24、漫游。15第15页/共123页除此，尚有很多可以直译的例子：as white as snow雪一样的白 as merry as a lark快乐得象云雀 as brave as a lion狮子一般勇敢 as busy as a bee 忙得象只蜜蜂 as timid as a mouse胆小如鼠 as sly as a fox狡诈如狐狸 as black as a crow黑如乌鸦 但是，有些明喻在直译成汉语时要做些调整，才符合汉语的表达习惯。例如：16第16页/共123页 The moon was above,cold and beautiful,and the music reminde

25、d Soapy of those days when his life contained such things as mothers and roses and clean thoughts and collars.一轮皎洁的寒月悬空高照，那悠扬的音乐使他回首往昔，诸如生活中的母爱、爱情、理想和体面的生活。再如：as bitter as wormwood苦似黄莲 as happy as a cow快乐得象只百灵鸟as bold as brass 脸皮厚得象城墙as stupid as a goose笨得象猪 17第17页/共123页2.Metaphor(暗喻)A metaphor is a

26、n implied simile.It differs from a simile in that the comparison is implied,not expressed(直接表达地).In other words,it calls one thing by the name of another,or describes one thing with some descriptive term which generally goes with something else.This transference(转换)is possible and desirable only whe

27、n the two things in question have a striking likeness in a particular aspect.“The imperialists and all reactionaries are paper tigers.”is a metaphor known throughout the world.Reactionaries and paper tigers are two entirely different things,but they are surprisingly alike in one aspect:in appearance

28、 they both look strong and terrible,but in fact they are weak and can be easily crushed(压坏，打倒)or defeated.18第18页/共123页It often happens that only one of the objects compared is named,the other thing being left to the imagination.In the expression“The night had a thousand eyes.”We think of the stars a

29、s if they were the eyes of a human being,and this produces a beautiful picture.The comparison in metaphor may be implied in the use of nouns,adjectives or verbs.A.Nouns(1)Life is a leaf of paper white,whereon each one of us may write.(2)All the worlds a stage,and all the men and women merely players

30、.19第19页/共123页B.Adjectives(1)There was a stormy discussion at our last meeting.(2)John has won golden(very valuable)opinions through his justice.C.Verbs(1)A bright idea suddenly struck me.(2)Crowds of villagers lined(stood there just like a line)the street to welcome the distinguished visitor 20第20页/

31、共123页练习 暗喻Metaphor 暗喻，又称隐喻，它结构不同于明喻，不需要as,like之类的比喻词，而是直接把比喻对象和比喻形象（即本体和喻体）联系起来，即“甲是乙”这种基本形式。暗喻是英语中最普通，最基本，也是最重要的修辞格。其含义含而不露，其含义需要想象，其产生的语言效果较之明喻也更强烈，更加深刻。其译法有两种：一为直译，以保持与原文的神似，即“貌离”而“神合”。例如：1.The society was his college.社会是他的大学。2.The boy is only skin and bone.这孩子瘦得皮包骨头。3.They are birds of feather.他

32、们是一丘之貉。21第21页/共123页4.He is said to be a rough diamond.人们说他是一块浑金璞玉。5.All the worlds a stage.世界是个大舞台。6he called them“blood transfusion”.他称之为“大输血”。7.His contemptuous eyes passed over her,and over all the other rats.他用他那蔑视的目光掠过她身上，掠过其他所有的耗子。8.All reactionaries are paper tigers.一切反动派对都是纸老虎。9.(The lady is

33、)A human chrysanthemum,sir,believe me.先生，说真的，（她）称得上菊花般的美人。10.I was down in the cellar of society,down in the subterranean depths of misery我生活在社会的底层，灾难的深渊中。22第22页/共123页 11.If dreams die,life is a broken-winged bird that can not fly.如果没有理想，生活就象是伤了翅膀的小鸟不能飞翔。12.He received it with a smile,and then as he

34、 looked at the note,his smile froze.他面带微笑接过字条，可是当他看着字条时，笑容呆滞了。（froze由“冻结”转义作“楞住”。）23第23页/共123页 13.It is regrettable that our appeal remained a dead letter.遗憾的是，我们当时的呼吁石沉大海。（dead letter由“死信”转义作“石沉大海”）14.Because of his one-man style of operation Kissinger had become a kind of bottleneck in his own NSC

35、 system.由于基辛格于独断专行，他已是国家安全委员会工作中的一种障碍。（bottleneck“瓶颈”应意译为“障碍”）下面再看暗喻中其他一些比喻方式：静物动化法：有时为了使描写生动一些，把本来用于表现动物活动的词用来描述静止的状态，这种修辞现象称为静物动化法。如 24 第24页/共123页15.On the table lay some dog-eared books.桌上躺着几本折了角的书。16.The trees stood greener after the rain.雨后的树木更加葱翠。转位修饰法：有些习惯上用来修饰甲事物事词（多为形容词）转用来修饰乙事物，这种修饰法称为转位修饰

36、法。如：17.Above us hung a sullen sky.天色阴沉沉的。18.He was left outside in the pitiless cold.他被拒之门外，门外寒气逼人。19.Everything smiled on him.一切都朝他微笑。（他心情很好）25第25页/共123页3.Personification 拟人 Personification is a figure of speech which represents an inanimate(无生命的)object,an animal,or an abstract idea as a personas c

37、apable of thought,feeling and speech.This figure adds dignity(庄重),animation(生机，活泼)and force(力度)to style.There are three chief kinds of personification:A.That produced by the use of adjectives or pronouns.In this form of personification,the qualities of living beings are attributed(把归于)to inanimate t

38、hings.(1)Look at the smiling moon.How bright she is!(2)The thirsty soil drank in the rain.(3)The moon pours her light.26第26页/共123页B.That produced by the use of verbs.Here inanimate things or abstract ideas are represented as having life.(1)The wind howled last night.(2)The flowers nodded to her as s

39、he passed.(3)A strange city sleeps under the hot Italian sun.C.That produced by the use of nouns.Here personal nouns are used in connection with impersonal ones.(1)the anger of the tempest(暴风雨)(2)the smile of spring(3)the whisper of leaves 27第27页/共123页The figure is easily confused with metaphor.When

40、 we speak of a stony heart,we use a metaphor,for we make an implied comparison between the heart and the hard stone.If we say,“The very stone cried out.”We use personification,for the comparison is not that of a person to the stone（把人比作石头）,but that of the stone to the person.More examples:1.Low spir

41、its are my true and faithful companions;they get up with me,go to bed with me,make journeys and return as I do.（The personification gives a delicately humorous effect.）2.The cloud brings fresh showers for the thirsty flowers.28第28页/共123页练习 拟人法Personification拟人是把物（包括动物，物体，思想或抽象概念等）拟作人，使其具有人的外表，个性，情感或

42、动作，拟人可以通过形容词，动词或名词表现出来，拟人法和静物动化法很相似。例如：1.The wind sighed in the tree tops.微风吹过树顶好象有人在叹息。2.In November pneumonia came to that part of the city.十一月，肺炎来到了那个城区。3.The grey stone could tell terrible stories of violence and injustice.那灰色的石头能讲述出无数有关暴力和不义的可怕故事。29第29页/共123页4.History will never forget that it

43、was here that Thomas More was falsely accused and condemned.历史不会忘记，正是在这里，托马斯.蔓尔，伟大的人文主义者被诬告，被判刑。5.The steel ye tempered glance on ye.他们铸的剑在把你们看管。6.elemental forces speaking in a voice of finality.大自然的威胁力在用决定性的语气说话了。7.I stood awhile where nature smiles to view the rocks and streams.大自然望着岩石和小溪微笑，我站在那里

44、停息片刻。8.King of the jungle,the lion strode across the plain.狮子，林中之王，漫步越过平原。30第30页/共123页9.The thirsty crops drinks in the rain.干渴的作物吮吸着雨水。10.Nothing could calm the anger of the storm.没有什么能使风暴停下来。这里顺便提及与拟人法相反的拟物法，即把人当作一般动物去描写。例如：1.He is a bookworm.他是个书呆子。2.She is shedding crocodile tears.她这是鳄鱼掉泪假慈悲。3.T

45、he spy had been dogging her for two days.那密探已跟踪她两天了。31第31页/共123页Figures of Association 联想修辞格 1.Metonymy 换喻（转喻或借代）Metonymy means a change of name.It is somewhat like metaphor,but it lies in a single word,whereas metaphor is usually more extended(意义延伸).Metonymy is founded upon likeness.The thing spoke

46、n of and the thing meant are alike in some respect Metonymy is founded upon relation.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.There are several kinds of metonymy.The following are the common ones.32第

47、32页/共123页A.The container for the thing contained.(用容器表示里边装的东西)(1)The mother did her best to take care of the cradle(=her baby).(2)The kettle(=the water in the kettle)boils.B.The symbol for the person or thing symbolized.(1)The bench(=judges)gave a hearing to the bar(=lawyers)(2)He succeeded to the c

48、rown(=became the sovereign ruler)in 1848.33第33页/共123页C.The instrument or organ for the agent.(1)The pen has more influence than the sword.(=Those who use the pen have more influence than those who use the sword.)(2)Give every man your ear,but few your voice.(多听少说)D.A cause for an effect.(1)He reads

49、Shakespeare(=the works of Shakespeare)E.An effect for a cause.(1)After a days traveling we took a rest under the shade(=tree)34第34页/共123页练习 换喻 Metonymy 换喻又称转喻或借代。它反映两个密切相关的现实关系，即换一个说法来表现一个事物。换喻与明喻或暗喻不同，不需要两个事物相比，而是表示甲乙两事物在某点上的联系，即提到甲事物就会使人联想到乙事物。换喻可以使表达多样化，使形象具体、生动。例如：1.from the cradle to the grave

50、从生到死（摇篮cradle表示孩提，坟墓grave表示死亡）2.Thats how the term“cats paw”has come into use.这就是“cats paw”这一术语如何得以使用的。(“cats paw”指“被他人利用为工具的人”。)35第35页/共123页3.Down came the long brown waves.棕色的波浪(指头发)披落下来。4.Grey hair should be respected.老年人应得到尊敬。5.The kettle boils.壶开了。(kettle=the water in the kettle)6.The pen has m