1、Figures of speechIn Poetry1第1页，共68页。DefinitionnFigures 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.2第2页，共68页。the chief functions of figures of speechn to embellish,to empha
2、size or to clarify.nto give tone or atmosphere to discourse,nto provide vivid examples to stimulate thought nto give life to inanimate objects,nto amuse,or to ornament.3第3页，共68页。Words are either literal or figurativenLiteral 原意nWords used in their original meanings are used literally.nFigurative 比喻义
3、nWords used in extended meanings for the purpose of making comparisons or calling up pictures in the readers or listeners mind are used figuratively.4第4页，共68页。colourfulnIn“a colourful garden”the word colourful is used in its literal sense to describe the many different colours of the flowers nin“a c
4、olourful life”or“a colourful career”the word is used in its figurative sense because neither life or career has any colour.5第5页，共68页。Figures of Speech(2)1.simile 2.metaphor 3.personification 4.metonymy 5.Synecdoche6.Antonomasia7.euphemism8.Hyperbole9.litotes 10.Antithesis11.Paradox12.Oxymoron13.Epig
5、ram14.Apostrophe 15.rhetorical question 16.Irony17.Sarcasm18.Satire19.Ridicule20.Innuendo21.Parody 22.Climax23.Anti-climax24.Alliteration 25.Assonance26.Onomatopoeia 27.Transferred epithet28.Pun29.Parallelism 30.Repetition6第6页，共68页。Major figures of speech in poetrynSimile 直喻nSimile is a figure of sp
6、eech which makes a comparison between two unlike elements having at least one quality or characteristic in common.nMetaphor 暗喻nA metaphor,like a simile,also makes a comparison between two unlike elements,but unlike a simile,this comparison is implied rather than stated.7第7页，共68页。Examples nshe has a
7、face thats as round as the moon.nTime flies like an arrow.nYou run like a rabbit.nLife is a yo-yo.Its a series of ups and downs.nAll the worlds a stage,And all the men and women merely players;8第8页，共68页。Her lips were red,her looks were free,Her locks were yellow as gold.Her skin was white as leprosy
8、,The Nightmare Life-in-Death was she,Who thicks mans blood with cold.她的唇色鲜红，她的表情不羁。她的枷锁黄如金。她的皮肤白如麻风。梦魇般的死中生命是她的存在，用冰冷浓稠了的血液。9第9页，共68页。The Waning MoonBy Percy Bysshe Shelley nAndlikeadyinglady,leanandpale,nWhotottersforth,wrappedinagauzyveil,nOutofherchamber,ledbytheinsanenAndfeeblewanderingsofherfad
9、ingbrain,nThemoonaroseupinthemurkyeast,nAwhiteandshapelessmass.n有如苍白、清癯、垂危的女郎，n薄纱掩面，步履踉跄，n精神恍惚，漫游出闺房n神魂颠倒，气吁吁游荡，n月儿升起在朦胧的东方，模模糊糊，一片白茫茫。10第10页，共68页。Mixed metaphorsnOne danger in using metaphors is the possibility of beginning with one comparison and ending with anothernThis is called a mixed metaphor
10、（混合隐喻；多重隐喻）11第11页，共68页。AllegorynAllegory:a narrative that serves as an extended metaphor.nAllegories are written in the form of fables,parables,poems,stories,and almost any other style or genre.Ann allegory is a complete narrative that conveys abstract ideas to get a point across.n 12第12页，共68页。Becau
11、se I could not stop for Deathby Emily Dickinson Because I could not stop for DeathHe kindly stopped for meThe Carriage held but just Ourselves-And Immortality.因为我不能停下来等待死神他便好心地停下来等我那辆车上只载我们两个以及永生。我们慢慢驱车他不慌不忙我也把我的劳与闲统统丢掉一边，为了他的礼让离那时已是几个世纪却仿佛过了还不到一天，我首次猜测到，马头在朝向永恒奔窜。Weslowly drove-He knew no hasteAnd
12、I had put awayMy labor and my Leisure too,For His Civility-Since then-tis Centuries-and yetFeels shorter than the DayI first surmised the HorsesHeadsWere toward Eternity-13第13页，共68页。Hyperbole:nHyperbole is a figure of speech in which exaggeration is used to emphasize a point,to create humor,or to ac
13、hieve some similar effects.n 14第14页，共68页。nShe was scared to death.nI told you a thousand times that you shouldnt behave like that.nBelinda smiled,and all the world was gay.(A Pope)nHer beauty made the bright world dim.(Shelly)nI have a sea of trouble.15第15页，共68页。When I hear your namenMy compulsion i
14、s to blast down every wall when I hear your namenId painted on all the houses,nThere wouldnt be a wellnI hadnt leaned intonTo shout your name therenMy compulsion isnTo teach the birds to sing it,nTo teach the fish to drink itnGod will sentence me to repeating it endlessly and forever.16第16页，共68页。per
15、sonificationnBy definition,personification is a figure of speech which attributes human qualities to inanimate objects or abstract ideas.nIt is closely related to metaphor and is sometimes called personal metaphor.17第17页，共68页。There are three chief kinds of personifications:1)That produced by the use
16、 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 leaves18第18页，共68页。e.g.nThe wind whistle through the trees.nThunder roared and a pouring rain started.n I w
17、atched the moonlight dancing on the ripples of the lake.nThe ancient mansion spoke to me of bygone days.nThe gentle breeze caressed my cheeks and soothed my anger.19第19页，共68页。The Windby James StephensnThe wind stood up and gave a shout.He whistled on his fingers andKicked the withered leaves aboutAn
18、d thumped the branches with his handAnd said that hed kill and kill,And so he will and so he will.20第20页，共68页。Metonymy借代nThe substitution of a noun for another closely associated noun.nThe substituted noun derives（获得）its meaning in the context it is used by the association produced in the readers mi
19、nd.21第21页，共68页。Example of metonymynIn contemporary English when we speak of a statement from the“White House”we understand that this is not a talking building,but an official communication with the authority of the President of the United States who lives in the White House.22第22页，共68页。A.Names of pe
20、rsons 1.John Bull:2.Uncle Sam:3.Ivan:4.John Doe:England,or the English peopleThe United States of Americathe Russian people ordinary American citizenThe alarm went out for a John Doe who stole the diamonds from the store.警察发出命令，搜捕一个从商店里偷盗钻石的家伙。B.Animals 1.British Lion:2.the bear:England or the Engli
21、sh governmentThe former Soviet union or the Soviet governmentC.Parts of the bodygray hair:old age1.Her heart ruled her head2.Use your brains.feelings or emotionswisdom,intelligence,reason23第23页，共68页。D.Professions 1.the bar:2.the bench:3.the veil:4.the press:1.He has been called to the bar.2.He has b
22、een appointed to the bench.3.She took the veil at 20.4.Hes meeting the press this morning.What has the press to say to this?the legal profession;position(office)of judge or magistrate;vocation of a nun;newspapers;newspaper reporters;E.Locations of government,of business or industrial enterprises 1.D
23、owning Street:2.The White House:3.Capitol Hill:4.the Pentagon:5.Kremlin:6.Fleet Street:7.Wall Street:8.Madison Avenue:9.Hollywood:the British government or cabinetthe President or Executive branch of the U.S.governmentthe Legislative branch of the U.S.government.the U.S.military establishmentthe gov
24、ernment of the former Soviet Unionthe British pressU.S.financial circlesAmerican advertising industryAmerican film-making industry24第24页，共68页。euphemism委婉语nWords or phrases that substitute an agreeable or inoffensive term for a more direct one that might embarrass or suggest something unpleasant nPro
25、fane(非宗教的;世俗的)words and expressions are generally taken from three areas:religion,toilets,and sex.25第25页，共68页。religionnGod gosh/gollynJesus jeeznDevil Old Nick26第26页，共68页。Toiletsnmens room/womens room nthe little boys room/the little girls room nrestroom nBathroomnWash my handsnthe head,(sailors ter
26、minology术语)nlatrine(common military term)27第27页，共68页。sexnSleep with someonenShagnBonknExchanging bodily fluidsnGetting laid28第28页，共68页。deathnPassed awaynPassed onnDepartednKicked the bucketnPushing up daisiesnSleeping with the fishes(掉水里淹死)29第29页，共68页。ironynStating one thing while meaning the exact
27、opposite.nor the person could be trying to be rude,even though the words used are seemingly polite etc.30第30页，共68页。Example of ironynYour friend turns up in ripped（撕裂的）jeans.With a smirk（傻笑；假笑）,you say,I see you have put on your best clothes!31第31页，共68页。understatement含蓄陈述nThe opposite of hyperbolenSt
28、ating an idea in words that are less strong than anticipated（预期的）.nto make something appear smaller or less important than it really is.32第32页，共68页。Example of understatementnIt does seem to be raining a little.nTheres a few cars out today,arent there?33第33页，共68页。sarcasmnSarcasm is a form of irony th
29、at is widely used in English especially when people are being humorous.nGenerally the sarcastic speaker or writer means the exact opposite of the word they use,often intending to be rude or to laugh at the person the words are addressed（针对）to.34第34页，共68页。Example of sarcasmnI love being married.Its s
30、o great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your lifenId insult you,but youre not bright enough to notice.nNot all men are annoying.Some are dead.35第35页，共68页。Synecdoche（提喻提喻：是不直接说某一事物的名称，而是借事物的本身所呈现的各种对应的现象来表现该事物的这样一种修辞手段。提喻提喻又称举偶法。）nA figure by which a more comprehensi
31、ve term is used for a less comprehensive or vice vers;as whole for part or part for whole,genus（类，种；属）for species or species for genus,etc.36第36页，共68页。Example of synedochenAll hands were summoned to the quarter-deck(后甲板),nwhere hands is used to describe sailors.37第37页，共68页。Antithesis（对比）nA direct co
32、ntrast in which two sets of figures are set in opposition to one another.38第38页，共68页。Example of antithesisn“And so,my fellow Americans,ask not,what your country can do for you.Ask what you can do for your country.”J F Kennedys Inaugural Address Winston Churchill,in which he challenges the Luftwaffe(
33、the German air force):n“You do your worst-and we will do our best.”nTo err is human,to forgive divine（神圣的；非凡的）.39第39页，共68页。Parallelism（排比）nParallelism refers to the figure of speech that expresses relevant ideas in the same or similar grammatical structures.nIt helps make a sentence brief,smooth and
34、 coherent(连贯的)and give it rhythm,balance and force.40第40页，共68页。Example of parallelismnTo have and to hold from this day forward,nfor better for worse,nfor richer for poorer,nin sickness and in health,nto love and to cherish,ntill death us do part.41第41页，共68页。Oxymoron（矛盾修辞法）nAncient Greek:Oxus=sharp
35、Moros=dull nOxymoron=a sharp dullness or a foolish wise.n.a self contradicting phrase.42第42页，共68页。oxymoronnA rhetorical figure by which contradictory or incongruous(不一致的)terms are conjoined(结合；连结)so as to give point to the statement or expression;nan expression,in its superficial or literal meaning
36、self-contradictory or absurd,but involving a point.n(Now often loosely(宽松地)or erroneously(错误地；)used as if merely=a contradiction in terms,an incongruous conjunction.)43第43页，共68页。Example of oxymoronnPretty uglynCivil warnMobile homenDry icenWhite goldnOld newsnOriginal copynVoice mailnHalf nakednFina
37、l draftnAlmost perfectnOpen secretnWorking holidaynMinor crisisnAct naturallynOnly choice44第44页，共68页。Pun(双关语；俏皮话)nA play on wordsnthe humorous use of a word,or of words which are formed or sounded alike but have different meanings,in such a way as to play on two or more of the possible applications;
38、a play on words.45第45页，共68页。Example of punnSeven days without water makes one weak.nWhats wrong with this fish?Long time no sea.nWhat do lawyers do when they die?Lie still.nTry our sweet corn.You will smile from ear to ear(笑得合不拢嘴).46第46页，共68页。Example of punnOld photographers never die,they just have
39、 flash backs.nThat new mystery novel has a killer start to it.nI wondered why the baseball was getting bigger.Then it hit me.nThe hospital lab is recruiting.Theyre looking for new blood.47第47页，共68页。Clich（陈词滥调，老生常谈）nA clich is a hackneyed（陈腐的；平庸的）phrase or expression.nThe phrase may once have been fr
40、esh or striking（显著突出的）,but it has become tired through over-use.48第48页，共68页。Example of clichnNo pain,no gainnEvery coin has two sidesnLast,but not least,avoid clichs like the plague（瘟疫）瘟疫）.49第49页，共68页。Paradox（自相矛盾，悖论）nParadox is a figure of speech in which a statement appears to be self-contradictor
41、y,but contains something of a truth.nParadox is used for emphasis or stylistic effect.50第50页，共68页。Example of paradoxnThe child is father to the man.nCowards（懦夫）die many times before their death.51第51页，共68页。Zenos paradox(芝诺,希腊哲学家)nThe Tortoise challenged Achilles to a race,claiming that he would win
42、as long as Achilles gave him a small head start（先行一点点).n Achilles laughed at this,for of course he was a mighty warrior and swift of foot,whereas the Tortoise was heavy and slow.52第52页，共68页。Zenos paradoxn“How big a head start do you need?”he asked the Tortoise with a smile.n“Ten meters,”the latter r
43、eplied.nAchilles laughed louder than ever.n“You will surely lose,my friend,in that case,”he told the Tortoise,“but let us race,if you wish it.”53第53页，共68页。Zenos paradoxOn the contrary,”said the Tortoise,“I will win,and I can prove it to you by a simple argument.”54第54页，共68页。Zenos paradoxn“Go on then
44、,”Achilles replied,with less confidence than he felt before.He knew he was the superior athlete,but he also knew the Tortoise had the sharper wits（智慧),and he had lost many a bewildering(使人困惑的)argument with him before this.55第55页，共68页。Zenos paradoxn“Suppose,”began the Tortoise,“that you give me a 10-
45、meter head start.nWould you say that you could cover that 10 meters between us very quickly?”n“Very quickly,”Achilles affirmed(断言；肯定）.n“And in that time,how far should I have gone,do you think?”56第56页，共68页。Zenos paradoxn“Perhaps a meter no more,”said Achilles after a moments thought.n“Very well,”rep
46、lied the Tortoise,“so now there is a meter between us.And you would catch up that distance very quickly?”n“Very quickly indeed!”57第57页，共68页。Zenos paradoxn“And yet,in that time I shall have gone a little way farther,so that now you must catch that distance up,yes?”nYe-es,”said Achilles slowly.n“And w
47、hile you are doing so,I shall have gone a little way farther,so that you must then catch up the new distance,”the Tortoise continued smoothly.58第58页，共68页。Zenos paradoxnAchilles said nothing.n“And so you see,in each moment you must be catching up the distance between us,and yet I at the same time wil
48、l be adding a new distance,however small,for you to catch up again.”n“Indeed,it must be so,”said Achilles wearily.59第59页，共68页。Zenos paradoxn“And so you can never catch up,”the Tortoise concluded sympathetically.n“You are right,as always,”said Achilles sadly n and conceded（让步）the race.60第60页，共68页。Fig
49、ures of speech to do with soundnSome figures of speech are chosen because of the sound they make.nSome poets or prose writers often choose a word to echo the meaning61第61页，共68页。Alliteration（押头韵）nAlliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds（辅音字母）62第62页，共68页。Example of alliterationnAlso,avoid aw
50、kward or affected（做作，不自然）alliteration.63第63页，共68页。Stan the strong surfer saved several swimmers on Saturday.Tiny Tommy Thomson takes toy trucks to Timmys on Tuesday.Click here to read more alliterations.64第64页，共68页。Assonance（半谐音，押韵）nassonance is the repetition of vowel（sounds元音）.65第65页，共68页。Onomatop
