英语修辞学课件

FiguresofSpeech

FiguresOfSpeechInEnglishStylisticsSimile

Afigureofspeechinwhichonethingislikentoanother,insuchawayastoclarifyandenhanceanimage.Itisanexplicitcomparisonrecognizablebytheuseofthewordlikeoras.(ADictionaryofLiteraryTerms)

Simile

w

1.Origin:Latin,meaninglike

w

2.Comparativewords:like,as

w

3.Functions:describingshape,scenery;expressingemotions;explaining;vividdescription,makingeasytounderstand;creatinginterest.StructureofaSimileTenor+comparativeword+vehicleSubject+comparativeword+referenceExample:MyloveislikearedredroseTomisastallashisbrother(notasimile)TomisastallasaMaypole.(simile)TypeOne:likeLivingwithoutanaimislikesailingwithoutacompass.Marriageislikeabeleagueredfortress:thosewhoarewithoutwanttogetin,andthosewithinwanttogetout.TypeTwo:asMenfeardeath,aschildrenfeartogointhedark.Lovegoestowardslove,asschoolboysfromtheirbooks.Butlovefromlove,towardsschoolwithheavybooks.(Lovegoestowardslove,asschoolboysgofromtheirbooks.Butlovegoesfromlove,asschoolboysgotowardsschoolwithheavybooks.)AsfirmasarockAsmuteasafishAsstrongasahorseAsbraveasalionAsobstinateasacowAswhiteassnowAsblackasink/pitchAschangeableastheweatherAswetasadrownedratAsblindasabatAsfatasapigAsproudasapeacockAsfreshasaroseTypeThree:what

TwoPatterns:AistoBwhatCistoD.WhatCistoD,AistoB.TypeThree:what

Readingistothemindwhatexerciseistothebody.Thepenistoawriterwhatthegunistoafighter.

作家的笔犹如战士的枪。.

TypeThree:what

Whatsculptureistoablockofmarble,educationistothesoul.

教育之于心灵犹如雕刻之于大理石。

Whatsaltistofood,witandhumoraretoconversationandliteratureTypeFour:thanAhomewithoutloveisnomorethanabodywithoutasoul.HehadnomoreideaofmoneythanacowTypeFive:andLoveandcoughcannotbehid.

爱情像咳嗽一样是掩盖不了的。Truthandroseshavethornsaboutthem.Kingsandbearsoftenworrytheirkeepers.Awordandstoneletgocannotberecalled.

说出去的话就像抛出去的石子，是收不回的。TypeSix:othersWhoistoblamebuthertyrantofafather.怪谁呢？只怪她那暴君般的父亲。Adoctormusthavetheheartofalionandthehandofalady.当一个医生必须有狮子般的胆量和仕女般的巧手。Simile

O,mylove’slikeared,redrose,That’snewlysprunginJune:O,mylove’slikethemelodyThat’ssweetlyplayedintune.－RobertBurnsSimile

啊，我的爱人像一朵红红的玫瑰；六月里迎风初开；啊，我的爱人像一曲甜蜜的歌；唱得合拍又柔和。

Thefirstlineofthepoemabove,O,mylove’slikeared,redrose,isasimile.Tocommunicatehisfeelings,thepoetinvitesthereadertoperceiveinhissweetheartsomeofthepropertiesofarose.Propertiesthismightincludearebeauty,freshness,scentedness,specialnessandrarity.Greenfly,thornsorblight,alsocommonpropertiesofroses,arelikelytoseemappropriatepointsofcomparison,bearinginmindwhatweknowofthecontext.Metaphor

Afigureofspeechcontaininganimpliedcomparison,inwhichawordorphraseordinarilyandprimarilyusedofonethingisappliedtoanother.(Webster’sNewWorldDictionary)

MetaphorAfigureofspeechinwhichonethingisdescribedintermsofanother.Thebasicfigureinpoetry.Acomparisonisusuallyimplicit;whereasinsimileitisexplicit.(ADictionaryofLiteraryTerms)Metaphor

Metaphors

areofteneasytoidentifyandtaketheformXisY.Somethingorsomeoneisbeingcomparedtosomethingorsomeoneelsethroughaconstructionusingtheappropriatepartoftheverbtobe(i.e.am,are,is,was,were,willbe).MetaphorEducationisnotthefillingofapail,butthelightingoffire.Moneyisabottomlesssea,inwhichhonor,conscience,andtruthmaybedrowned.Marriageisabookofwhichthefirstchapteriswritteninpoetryandremainingchaptersinprose.Alltheworld’sastage,Andallmenandwomenmerelyplayers;Theyhavetheirexitsandentrances,Andonemaninhistimeplaysmanyparts,Hisactsbeingsevenages…(Shakespeare,AsyouLikeit)Thefirstclausesetsupthebasiccomparison.Thetenorandvehicleinvokedbythefirstlineareelaboratedinthelinesthatfollow.Themetaphormakespossiblefortheliterarywritertoexplainthingsvividlyingreatdetail.

MetaphorTheboywolfeddownthefoodthemomenthegrabbedit.Somebooksaretobetasted,othersswallowed,andsomefewtobechewedanddigested.(OfStudies,Bacon)Shehasaphotographicmemoryfordetails.ThemountainouswavesswalloweduptheshipApolicemanwavedmeoutofthesnakeoftraffic.Metonymy(借代）Afigureofspeechthatconsistsinusingthenameofonethingforthatofsomethingelsewithwhichitisassociated.

(Webster’sNewInternationalDictionary)MetonymyDefinition:onethingforanother;associationw

MetonymyisGreekforachangeofname

Function:brief,vivid,interestingExample:Whatislearnedinthecradleiscarriedtothegrave(fromthecradletothegrave从生到死）MetonymyAthousandmustachescanlivetogetherbutnotfourbreasts.Thepenismightierthanthesword.Hekeepsagoodtable.(待客周到,以丰盛的饮食招待客人)Shehastheeyeforthefairandthebeautiful.Thewolfandthepigmingledtogetherinhisface.Chinawon4goldsand5silvers.WedroveaFordtoHydePark.MetonymyThisisthestrugglebetweenthekimonoandtheminiskirt.Itisapitythatthereismoreignorancethanknowledgeinthecountry.Shehasretiredfromthestagetoteach.Thegloriesofourbloodandstate,Areshadows,notsubstantialthings;Thereisnoarmouragainstfate;Deathlayshisicyhandonkings;SceptreandCrownMusttumbledownAndinthedustbeequalmadeWiththepoorcrookedScytheandSpade.(Shirley,TheGloriesofourBlood)

Inthispoem,fourmetonymsareused:Sceptre,Crown,Scythe,andSpade.SceptreandCrownarethingsthatkingsandqueenscarryandweartorepresenttheirpowerandauthority,andarethereforemetonymsforkingsandqueens.ScytheandSpadearethingsusedbypeasantsorfarmworkers,andarethereforemetonymsforpeasants.WhatShirleyistryingtosayisthatdeathcomestoallpeople,thenobleandthehumblealike.Theideawouldhavebeenexpressedmuchlesseffectively,ifmetonymshadnotbeenused.显贵王侯全会倒毖，与贱民并肩齐埋在尘土之中。在这首诗中诗人借皇冠(crown)和君主节杖(sceptre)来代替显贵王侯、君主贵族。借农民常用的工具大镰刀(scythe)和铁锹(spade)代表农民大众。诗人运用借代这一修辞手段形象生动、简洁地表达了一种不可抗拒的自然规律：无论是至高无上的君主，还是卑微的劳苦大众在死神面前一律平等。Parody

(Pieceof)writingintendedtoamusebyimitatingthestyleofwritingusedbysomebodyelse.(OxfordAdvancedLearner’sDictionaryofCurrentEnglish)ParodyLiteraryormusicalcompositionimitatingthecharacteristicstyleofsomeotherworkorofawriterorcomposer,buttreatingaserioussubjectonanonsensicalmanner,asinridicule.

(Webster’sNewWorldDictionary)ParodyDefinition:imitationofwell-knownsayingsFunction:humorous,ironical,interestingExample:Ihavenooutlook,butanuplook.Myplaceinsocietywasatthebottom.

Parody我没有人生观，但我有“上爬观”，我的地位在社会的最底层。ParodyAfriendinneedisafriendtobeavoided.难中的朋友是要躲避的朋友。这句话明显是仿Afriendinneedisafriendindeed.而来的。ParodyItissaidJanehasfalleninlovewithJack.Yes,butshesaysshehadhesitatedforalongtimebeforeshefinallywalkedintolove.据说简与杰克坠入了情网。是的，不过她说她曾经犹豫了很长一段时间最后才步入情网。Reagan’sconductintheGovernor’sofficedidatleastdemonstratethathisconservativebarkoftencarriedlittlebitewhenhetackledthepracticalproblemsgoverninghisstate.(Time,April28,1980)里根在州长任上的行为至少显示他在处理州里的实际问题时并不像他大叫大嚷的那些保守的调调厉害。barkoftencarriedlittlebite

是根据谚语Hisbarkisworsethanhisbite.(心地不如嘴恶)仿拟出来的。“Twinkle,twinkle,littlebat!HowIwonderwhatyou’reat!”“Youknowthesong,perhaps?”“I’veheardsomethinglikeit,”saidAlice.“Itgoeson,youknow.”theHattercontinued,“inthisway—Upabovetheworldyoufly.Likeateatrayinthesky.Twinkle,twinkle—”(l.Carrol,Alice’sAdventuresinWonderland)“一闪，一闪，小蝙蝠！我不知道你往哪里飞！”“你也许知道这首歌吧？”“我听过相似的歌，”艾丽斯说，“你知道下面还有呢。”帽匠继续道“是这样的——离开地面的你高高地飞翔像个茶盘在天上一闪一闪——”《艾丽斯漫游奇境记》中帽匠关于蝙蝠的歌明显是仿拟英国诗人JaneTayor写的著名儿歌TheStar的第一节：Twinkle,twinkle,littlestar,HowIwonderwhatyouare!Upabovetheworldsohigh.Likeadiamondinthesky.ParodyOriginal:Wherethereisawill,thereisaway.Imitation:Wherethereisawill,thereisarelative.Wherethereisawill,thereisalawsuit.ParodyBeautythat’smorethanskindeep.(NationalGeographic,June,1980)并非肤浅的美。Beauty’sbutskindeep.(美是肤浅的。)ParodyAhusbandinhandisworthtwointhebush.Hemarriedabitmorethanhecouldchew.Awordintimesavesnine.HewasbornwithaCadillacinhismouth.Toeatishuman;todigest,divine.Tolieornottolie—thedoctor’sdilemma.Abirdinhandisworthtwointhebush.biteoffmorethanonecanchew:attempttodotoomuchorsomethingthatistoodemandingAstitchintimesavesnine.Bebornwithasilverspooninone’smouth:HavingwealthyparentsToerrishuman;toforgivedivine(人孰无过):Itishumannaturetosinandmakemistakesandthereforeoneshouldbeasforgivingaspossible.Tobeornottobe,that’stheproblem.PersonificationAfigureofspeechinwhichathing,quality,orideaisrepresentedasaperson.(Webster’sNewWorldDictionary)1.O,mylove’slikeared,redrose,That’snewlysprunginJune:O,mylove’slikethemelody

That’ssweetlyplayedintune.－RobertBurns啊，我的爱人像一朵红红的玫瑰；六月里迎风初开；啊，我的爱人像一曲甜蜜的歌；唱得合拍又柔和。

(王佐良译）2.Kindnessisthegoldenchainbywhichtheworldisbound.(Goethe)

仁爱是联结世界的一条金链。3.Theraintothewindsaid“YoupushandI’llpelt,”TheysosmotethegardenbedThattheflowersactuallykneltAndlaylodged—thoughnotdeadIknowhowtheflowersfelt.(RobertFrost)雨对风说：“你来狂吹，我来猛落。”他们俩就这样在花圃上施暴虐于是花儿们便七歪八倒叶残瓣破最后终于倒下了——尽管还奄奄一息活着我知道花儿们此时心中感受如何。例1是明喻，将爱人比作花朵，比作乐曲；例2是隐喻，将仁爱比作金链条，都是静止的比喻。例3作为拟人格却活泼得多，风和雨都成了人，变成了冷酷、残暴、以施虐为乐的人，风和雨狂吹猛落直把花儿摧残得奄奄一息。HowsoonhathTime,thesubtlethiefofyouth,stolenonhiswingmythreeandtwentiethyear!(Milton)时间，这个盗窃青春的狡猾的小偷，盗窃了我二十又三年飞去了。在十七、十八世纪的古典诗歌中，诗人们出于对神话和传统的尊重，常喜欢把自然现象人格化。诗人按照传统把Time比拟做人。PersonificationLove,freeasair,atsightofhumanties,spreadshislightwings,andinamomentflies.爱情，自由得像空气，一见到人间的羁绊，伸展开他的翅膀立即飞开。Personification…hereletthemlieTillfamineandagueeatthemup.(Shakespeare:Macbeth)让他们去撒谎吧直到饥荒与疟疾把他们都吃掉。饥荒与疟疾都是可以置人于死地的，所以，用eatup把这些灾祸拟人化，是很贴切的。PersonificationAliecantravelhalfwayaroundtheworldwhilethetruthisputtingonitsshoes.

真理还来不及穿上鞋子，谎言已经走遍了半个世界。

TheRoseandtheGardenerTheRoseinthegardenslippedherbud,Andshelaughedintheprideifheryouthfulblood,Asshethoughtofthegardenerstandingby——“Heisold—soold;andhesoonwilldie!”ThefullRosewaxedinthewarmJuneair,Andshespreadandspread,tillherheartlaybare,Andshelaughedoncemoreassheheardhistread,“Heisoldernow.Hewillsoonbedead!”Butthebreezeinthemorningblew,andfoundThattheleavesoftheblownRosestrewedtheground,Andhecameatnoon,thatGardenerold,Andherakedthemsoftlyunderthemold.AndIwovethethingtoarandomrhyme,FortheRoseisBeauty:theGardener,Time.(AustinDobson1840-1921)

玫瑰与园丁玫瑰花在园中绽开了她的蓓蕾，她讪笑着自恃着年轻娇美，她笑那老园丁竟站在她身边—“他已经老了—老态龙钟，很快便会命丧黄泉。在六月的暖风中她尽量摇曳盛开，她灿烂地开放，开放，直到袒露心怀，她听见老园丁的脚步声便再次嘲笑：“他越来越老了，他老命难保！”可是上午的和风不停地吹，结果发现玫瑰花的花瓣被吹落地上一片又一片，老园丁来时已经到了正午，他把落花轻轻聚拢埋入泥土。我且漫将此事写上我的诗笺，玫瑰虽美但园丁却拥有时间。这首诗是诗人借物抒情，诗人感慨人间有些人妄自尊大、浅薄自傲、负心薄义，但若直接说出便成了乏味的说教，而用拟人的手法将花变成人让花儿自己现身说法，十分巧妙地将诗人的心理感受转移到花儿身上。PersonificationSlangislanguagethattakesoffitscoat,spitsonitshands,andgoestowork.Lazinesstravelssoslowly,thatpovertysoonovertakeshim.Australiaissokindthat,justtickleherwithahoe,andshelaughswithaharvest.OnomatopoeiaCombinationofsoundsinawordthatimitatingwhatthewordrefersto,like‘hiss’or‘boom’.Thestreamflowsthroughthewoods.Thestreamismurmuringthroughthewoods.Dasistartedlaughing.Dasistartedgiggling.Thedoorwaspushedopen.Thedoorcrashedopen.Heavyraindropsfellonthetent.Heavyraindropsbeganpitter-patteringonthetent.OnomatopoeiaDefinition:imitationofsound.Function:association,direct,vivid.Example:Thesnakehissed.Giggle,clap,patter,mew,rumbleOnomatopoeiaApesgibber.Assesbray.Beeshum,buzz,drone.Bullsbellow.Cowslow,mooCockscrowHenscackle,cluckOnomatopoeiaChickencheep.Catsmew,purrDogsbow-wow.Dovescoo.Ducksquack.Elephantstrumpet.Frogscroak.OnomatopoeiaGeesegaggle.Horsesneigh,snort.Magpieschatter.Micesqueak.Pigssqueal,grunt.Lionsroar.Tigersgrowl,roar.OnomatopoeiaSnakeshiss.Wolveshowl.OnomatopoeiaSoundfromnature:Murmur,babble,swish,patter,rumble,roll,rustle,zip,toot,tick,tinkle,screech,bang,bubble,clang,crack,splash,grumbleEuphemismTheuseofpleasant,mildorindirectwordsorphrasesinplaceofmoreaccurateordirectones.InoldGreek,‘eu’means‘well’or‘soundingwell’;‘pheme’meansspeech(说话).EuphemismDefinition:totalkaboutunpleasantthingsinapleasantway.Undertheweather.SocialdiseaseHardofhearingJoinone’sancestorsWashone’shandsEuphemismDiseasesLookoffcolourUndertheweatherNotallthereLongillnessSocialdiseasesEuphemismDisabilityDisabledHandicappedInconveniencedVisuallyretardedEuphemismAgeAdvancedinagePastone’sprimeFeelone’sageGoldenageSeniorcitizenThelongerlivingEuphemismDeathGowestAtrestAsleepReturntodustRunone’sracesEuphemismPartsofbodyInone’sbirthdaysuitGlobes,apples,curves,charms(breast)Passair,makeanoiseRelieveoneselfGogetsomefreshairHyperbole/OverstatementAnexaggeratedorextravagantstatementusedasafigureofspeech

(AmericanHeritageDictionary)Exaggerationforeffect,notmeanttobetakenliterally…

(TheWebster’sNewWorldDictionary)Extravagantexaggeration

(TheWebster’sNinthNewCollegiateDictionary)Hyperbole/OverstatementFunction:exaggeratethetoneCompare:Herandowntheavenue,makingaloudnoise.Herandowntheavenue,makinganoiseliketenhorsesatagallop.Hyperbole

OverstatementOnefatherismorethanahundredschoolmasters.It’sacrimetostayinsideonsuchabeautifulday.Themosteffectivewaterpowerintheworld–women’stearsAsfairartthou,mybonnielass,SodeepinluveamI,AndIwillluvetheestill,mydear,Tilla’theseasgangdry,

Tilla’theseagangdry,mydear,Andtherocksmeltwi’thesun!AndIwillluvetheestill,mydear,Whilethesandso’lifeshallrun.

Itisquiteobviousthatalltheseaswillneverbecomedryandtherockswillunlikelymeltwiththesun.However,wecannoticethatthespeakerhereisexpressingagenuinelyfeltemotion.Whathetriestosaytohisbelovedisthathewillforeverloveher.Thehyperbolicexpressionherestronglyemphasizethepromiseofundyinglove.

Forshewasbeautiful－herbeautymadethebrightworlddim,andeverythingbesideseemedlikethefleetingimageofashade.－ShellyThehyperboleherbeautymadethebrightworlddimexpressesthespeaker’sgreatadmirationforthefemalefigure.Whatthepoetintendstosay,putinplainterms,isthatshewasextraordinarilybeautiful.Tobe,ornottobe:thatisthequestionWhether’tisnoblerinthemindtosufferTheslingsandarrowsofoutrageousfortune,OrtotakearmsagainstaseaoftroublesAndbyopposingendthem?...(Shakespeare’sHamlet)生存还是毁灭,这是一个值得考虑的问题；默默忍受命运的暴虐的毒箭，或是挺身反抗人世的无涯的苦难，在奋斗中结束一切？……Ahyperboleisoftenmetaphorical.Thephraseaseaoftroublesinlinefourisanexaggeratedaswellasmetaphoricwayofsayingthatitisagreatquantityoftroubles.Understatement(低调陈述)

Statementthatexpressedanidea,etc,tooweakly.（轻描淡写地来陈述一种想法）(AdvancedLearner’sDictionary)UnderstatementFunction:controlthetoneofspeaking

Overstatement:deliberatelymaximizingtheimportance;playup;highprofile

Understatement:deliberatelyminimizetheimportance;playdown;lowprofileThisproblemisnotaboveusHeisamannotwithoutambition.Moneyisakindoftight,butIcanmanage.

Well…let’sgohomeandtalkaboutit.We’llfigureoutsomething.IcansendyoutotheemploymentofficeIwenttoand－‘Ican’ttype.Igotnocollegedegree.Ican’tdoanything－andbesides,Iwannabeintheshow!’Neelystartedtosobviolentlyagain.‘Please,Neely,’Annebegged.SheknewMissSteinbergandthegirlswerestaring,butherworstfearmaterializedwhenLyonBurkeopenedhisdoor.ShesmiledathimweaklyashecameoverandstaredattheshriekingNeely.‘ThisisNeely.She’salittleupset.’‘I’dsaythatwasaclassicunderstatement.’－Susan,ValleyoftheDollsWithoutknowinganythingmoreaboutthecontext,itiseasytoseethatNeelywasaextremelyupset.Therefore,LyonBurkewaswittytorefertoAnne’sremarkShe’salittleupsetasaclassicunderstatement.Inthenovel,Annewasdepictedasalittlereserved－typicalbearingofNewEnglanders.Herunderstatementherecanbeseenasamanifestationofthisquality.ParallelismThearrangementofanumberofrelatedideasofthesameimportanceinanumberofparallelorbalancedstructuresformsaintegratedwhole,inordertointensifyemotionandtoemphasizetheauthor’spoint.

ParallelismFunction:createrhythm,brief,compareandcontrastCivilizedmenarrivedinthePacific,armedwithalcohol,syphilis,trousersandtheBible.AnEnglishmanthinksseated;aFrenchman,standing;anAmerican,pacing;anIrishman,afterward.ParallelismTheycoulddescribeanentertainmentwithaccuracy,relateananecdotewithhumour,andlaughattheiracquaintancewithspirit.Readnottocontradictandconfuse;nortobelieveandtakeforgranted;nortofindtalkanddiscourse;buttoweighandconsider.ParallelismTheworldlistens.Theworldwatches.Theworldwaitstoseewhatwewilldo.Iamveryfondofthecompanyofladies;Iliketheirbeauty.Iliketheirdelicacy;Iliketheirvivacity,andIliketheirsilence.Parallelism

Womenwererunningouttothelineofmarch,cryingandlaughingandkissingthemengood-bye.(JohnD.Killens:“GodBlessAmerica”)

Theyriseoutoftheearth,theysweatandstarveforafewyears,andthentheysinkbackintothenamelessmoundsofthegraveyardandnobodynoticesthattheyaregone.－GeorgeOrwell,Marrakech

Itwasthebestoftimes,itwastheworstoftimes;itwastheageofwisdom,itwastheageoffoolishness;itwastheepochofbelief,itwastheepochofincredulity;itwastheseasonofLight,itwastheseasonofDarkness;itwasthespringofhope,itwasthewinterofdespair;wehadeverythingbeforeus,wehadnothingbeforeus;wewereallgoingdirecttoHeaven,wewereallgoingdirecttheotherway.

－CharlesDickensATaleofTwoCitiesForitisnotlightthatisneeded,buttire;itisnotthegentleshower,butthunder.Weneedthestorm,thewhirl-wind,andtheearthquake.Thefeelingofthenationmustbequickened;theconscienceofthenationmustberoused;theproprietyofthenationmustbestartled;thehypocrisyofthenationmustbeexposed;anditscrimesagainstGodandmenmustbeproclaimedanddenounced.－FrederickDouglassItisratherforustobeherededicatedtothegreattaskremainingbeforeus,thatfromthesehonoreddeadwetakeincreaseddevotiontothatcauseforwhichtheyheregavethelastfullmeasureofdevotion;thatweherehighlyresolvedthatthesedeadshallnothavediedinvain;thatthisnation,underGod,shallhaveanewbirthoffreedom,andthatgovernmentofthepeople,bythepeople,forthepeople,shallnotperishfromtheearth.

WhenItookuponthetombsofthegreat,everyemotionofenvydiesinme;WhenIreadtheepitaphsofthebeautiful,everyinordinatedesiregoesout;WhenImeetwiththegriefofparentsuponatombstone,myheartmeltswithcompassion;WhenIseethetomboftheparentsthemselves,Iconsiderthevanityofgrievingforthosewhomwemustquicklyfollow.

Ifyouprickus,dowenotbleed?Ifyoutickleus,dowenotlaugh?Ifyoupoisonus,dowenotdie?Andifyouwrongus,shallwenotrevenge?(TheMerchantofVenice)Theseedyesow,anotherreaps;Thewealthyefind,anotherkeeps;Therobesyeweave,anotherwears;Thearmsyeforge,anotherbears.(P.B.Shelley,SongtotheMenofEngland)MyHeartLeapsUpMyheartleapsupwhenIbeholdArainbowinthesky,Sowasitwhenmylifebegan;SoisitnowIamaman;SobeitwhenIshallgrowold,Orletmedie!TheChildisfatheroftheMan;AndIcouldwishmydaystobeBoundeachtoeachbynaturalpiety.

Inthispoem,thepoethassuccessfullyexpressedhisgreatreverencefornaturewhichgoesbeyondtheboundsofthepast,presentandfuture.Thethemeisthoughtoutchieflybytheparallelismwhichexistsinlines3,4,and5.Firstly,thesamenessofstructureimpliesthesamenessinmeaning.Thisshowsthatthespeakerhopesthathisresponsetoseeingarainbowremainsthesamethroughouthislife.Secondlyandmoreimportantly,theemotionalfeelingexpressedgetsstrongeraftereachjuxtaposedunit,reachingitsclimaxinthefinalparallelunit.Reinforcedbytheimperativemoodandthemeaningofthelinefollowingit,line5mosteffectivelyexpressesthespeaker’sstrongdeterminationforcontinuingtoholdadeeploveandrespectfornature.ContrastCowardsdiemanytimesbeforetheirdeath;thevaliantnevertasteofdeathbutonce…Letusnevernegotiateoutoffear,butletusneverfeartonegotiate.Menalwayswanttobeawoman’sfirstlove;womenhavemoresubtleinstinct;whattheylikeistobeaman’slastromance.ContrastAmothertakestwentyyearstomakeamanofherboy,andanotherwomanmakesafoolofhimintwentyminutes.Antithesis(对偶)Contrastofideasmarkedbythechoiceandarrangementofwords,e.g.Givemeliberty,orgivemedeath不自由，毋宁死。AntithesisFeature:contrastinmeaning,parallelinstructureKnowledgemakehumble,ignorancemakeproud.…thenegrolivesonalonelyislandofpovertyinthemidstofavastoceanofmaterialprosperity.AntithesisThelifeofthewolfisthedeathofthelamb.(对敌人的仁慈就是对人们的犯罪。)ShortaccountsmakelongfriendsLifecanonlybeunderstoodbackwards,butitmustbelivedforwards.Wherethere’smarriagewithoutlove,therewillbelovewithoutmarriage.－BenjaminFranklinIftheeconomystaysdown,canconservativesstayup?OxymoronTheyokingtogetheroftwoexpressionswhichareincompatible,sothatincombinationtheyhavenoconceivableliteralreferencetoreality.OxymoronFeatures:contradictoryinmeaningThecomplexityofthingsExample:AcheerfulpessimistPainfulpleasureAthunderoussilenceOxymoron(矛盾修饰法)Adj.+N.creativedestruction,livingdeath,tearfuljoy,orderlychaos,etc.Adj.+Adj.coldpleasantmanner,sour-sweetdays,poorrichguys,etc.Adv.+Adj.dullybright,mercifullyfatal,falselytrue,wiselystupid,etc.V.+Adv.hastenslowly(=makehasteslowly),shinedarkly,groanloudly,etc.N.+N.love-haterelationship,thesoundofsilence,etc.OxymoronIt(NewYork)hasthepoorestmillionaires,thelittlestgreatmen,thehaughtiestbeggars,theplainestbeauties,thelowestskyscrapers,thedolefulestpleasuresofanytownIeversaw.OxymoronAnhonourablemurdererifyouwill;FornoughtIdidinhate,butallinhonour.

－WilliamShakespeare,OthelloJuliet:Oserpentheart,hidwithaflow’ringface!Dideverdragonkeepsofairacave?Beautifultyrant!fiendangelical!Dove-feather’draven!Wolfish-raveninglamb!Despisedsubstanceofdivinestshow!Justoppositetowhatthoujustlyseem’st,Adamnedsaint,anhonourablevillain!－WilliamShakespeare,RomeoandJuliet

Themajoragainpressedtohisblueeyesthetipsofthefingersthatweredisposedontheedgeofthewheeledchairwithcarefulcarelessness,aftertheCleopatramodelandMr.Dombeybowed.(DombeyandSon)Thesemanticclashisevenmoreapparentinthetwoantonymscarefulandcarelessness.Thegroupingtogetheroftheantonymsvividlyandunreservedlydemonstratesthepretenceandaffectednessofthemajor.PunPun:“alsoplayonwords—n.Anamusinguseofawordorphrasethathastwomeanings,orwordswiththesamesoundbutdifferentmeanings:Hemadethispun:‘Sevendayswithoutwatermakeoneweak’(=1week)”。

（LongmanDictionaryofContemporaryEnglish)PunThehumoroususeofaword,orofwordswhichareformedorsoundedalikebuthavedifferentmeanings,insuchawayastoplayontwoormoreofthepossibleapplications;aplayonwords.

(Webster’sNewWorldDictionary)Pun1.Thesamesound,butdifferentmeaningsYouearn

yourlivingandurn

yourdead.

谋生即筑墓。(earn

yourliving

谋生，urn

yourdead火化死者）

Pun2.Thesamespelling,samesoundbutdifferentmeanings.ToEnglandwillIsteal,andthereI’llsteal.(Shakespeare:HenryV)

我悄悄地溜到英国就在那儿偷。Pun

Wemusthangtogether,orweshallallhangseparately.（BenjaminFranklin)

我们必须紧密地团结在一起，否则我们将被一个个地绞死。

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