英语修辞all figures of speech.doc

Figures of Speech Ⅰ. A Brief Introduction Figures of speech are ways of making our language figurative. When we use words in other than their ordinary or literal sense to lend force to an idea, to heighten effect, or to create suggestive imagery, we are said to be speaking or writing figuratively. Now we are going to talk about some common forms of figures of speech. Ⅱ. Forms of Figures of Speech Simile （明喻） 1). Definition It is a figure of speech which makes a comparison between two unlike elements having at least one quality or characteristic in common. 2). Simile marker To make the comparison, words like as, as...as, as if, as though, as …so, similar to, to bear a resemblance to and like are used to transfer the quality we associate with one to the other. 3). Examples: New China is like a red sun rising in the east. ∣ ∣ ∣ Subject simile marker reference Here “New China” is called “subject” or “tenor”, “a red sun” is called “reference” or “vehicle” and “like” is called the “indicator of resemblance” or “simile marker”. She spoke hurriedly, as if her heart had leaped into her throat at the boy’s words. 4). Some idioms as fresh as a rose, brave as a lion, cunning as a fox, proud as a peacock, as cold as ice. 5). The usage of simile in passage So compared with any ordinary beam of light, the laser beam is a very orderly affair indeed. It’s like a military march— everyone in step. In an ordinary beam, the weaves are like the people on a crowd going to a football match, justling (拥挤) and bumping（碰撞） into one another. Metaphor (暗喻) 1). Definition It is like a simile, also makes a comparison between two unlike elements, but unlike a simile, this comparison is implied rather than stated. (Condensed Simile) 2). Comparison between simile and metaphor Simile Metaphor The news is as a dagger to his heart. The news is a dagger to his heart. Joe fought like a lion. Joe was a lion in the battle. Learning may be likened to climbing up a mountain. Learning