Figures of Speech英文修辞手法.doc

Figures of Speech Figures of speech are forms of expression that depart from normal word or sentence order or from the common literal meanings of words, for the purpose of achieving a special effect. Figures of speech exist in almost endless variety and many are closely related or intricately overlap, hence no completely satisfactory system of classification has ever been devised. The following are some commonly used ones: 1. Simile A figure that involves an expressed comparison, almost always introduced by the word “like” or “as”. The two things compared must be dissimilar and the basis of resemblance is usually an abstract quality. a. The water lay gray and wrinkled like an elephant’s skin. b. That man can’t be trusted. He’s as slippery as an eel. c. What sculpture is to a block of marble, education is to the soul. 2. Metaphor The substitution of one thing for another, or the identification of two things from different ranges of thought. It is often loosely defined as “an implied comparison,” “a simile without ‘like’ or ‘as’”. Examples: a. Irrigation is the lifeblood of agriculture. b. The flames of rebellion were kindled in secret. 3. Personification A figure of speech that gives human form or feelings to animals, or life and personal attributes to inanimate objects, or to ideas and abstractions. There are three chief kinds of personifications: 1) That produced by the use of adjectives: the blushing rose; the thirsty ground 2) That produced by the use of verbs: the kettle sings; the waves danced 3) That produced by the use of nouns: the smiles of spring; the whisper of leaves More examples: a. The match will soon be over and defeat is staring us in the face. b. This time fate was smiling to him. 4. Metonymy The substitution of the name of one thing for that of another with which it is closely associated. For example: a. The pen is mightier than the sword. b. Gray hairs should be respected. Metonymy can be derived from various sources— from