英语修辞格

An Introduction to Figures of Speech(修辞格)Rhetorical Devices(修辞手法)1. Simile(明喻)Simile is an expression of comparison between two different things. It is usually introduced by “as”or “like”, and sometimes also by “as…as/as…so”, and “resemble”as the signs of comparison.明喻就是打比方，指一事物像另一事物的修辞格。

常用的比喻词有“as”or “like”, and sometimes also by “as…so /as…as”, and “resemble”等1). Mercy drops as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath.——Shakespeare2). The cheque fluttered to the floor like a bird with a broken wing.3). Self-criticism is as necessary to us as air to water.4). As a man whispers, so the breeze makes a low, hissing sound.5) Learning resembles scaling the heights.2. Metaphor(隐喻/暗喻)Metaphor contains an implied comparison, in which a word or phrase ordinarily or primarily used of one thing is applied to another. In other words, it calls one thing by the name of another or one thing is described in terms of another.隐喻是一种隐含着比喻的修辞格，它直接把一种事物比为另一种事物，不用比喻词，通常比较含蓄。

1). The imperialists and all reactionaries are paper tigers.(All reactionaries and paper tigers are two entirely different things, but they are surprisingly alike in one respect: in appearance they both look strong and terrible, but in fact they are weak and can be easily crushed and defeated.)2). The night had a thousand eyes.(We think of the stars as if they were the eyes of a human being, and this produces a beautiful picture.)3). There was a stormy discussion at our last meeting.4). The sunshine of happiness is made up of very little beams5). All the world’ a stage,And all the men and women merely players.(Shakespeare)6). Because of his wealth, he was a fountain of generosity to his relatives and friends.3. Personification(拟人)Personification is a figure of speech in which a thing, quality, or idea is represented as a person.拟人是把物当作人来描写的一种修辞格。

它变无灵为有灵，使表现对象栩栩如生、活灵活现。

1). the anger of the tempest.2). the whisper of the leaves.3). Look at the smiling moon. How bright she is!4). The thirsty soil drank in the rain.5). None preaches better than the ant, and she says nothing.6). Liberty veiled her face, while the tyrant spoke.4. Metonymy(借代/转喻/换喻)Metonymy means a change of name. 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.转喻是指用一名称来指代与之密切相关的事物。

1). The kettle (=The water in the kettle) is boiling.2). The mother did her best to take care of the cradle. (=her baby)3). He succeeded to the crown in 1848.(i.e. became the sovereign ruler)4). The pen has more influence than the sword.(=Those who use the pen have more influence than those who use the sword)5). He reads Shakespeare. (= the works of Shakespeare)6). Nowadays no one can claim to scholastic attainments, without knowing Darwain andEinsein. (= the Theory of Evolution and the Theory of Relativity)7). After a day’s travelling we took a rest under the shade. (=the tree)8). Many people love rosy cheeks.(= children)5. Synecdoche(提喻/举喻)Synecdoche is a figure of speech which consists chiefly in putting a part for the whole or the whole for the part, and which consists chiefly in putting the concrete for the abstract or the abstract for the concrete.提喻是指以局部代替全体或以全体代替局部，以抽象代替具体或以具体代替抽象的一种修辞格。

1). The part for the whole1). How to earn daily bread by my pen was the problem.(= the necessaries of life) (B. Shaw)2). The whole for the part2). China (=The Chinese players) defeated Japan (=the Japanese players) in the men’s world table-tennis championships.3). The concrete for the abstract3). It was the circumstances that developed the poet (= poetic talent) in him.4). The abstract for the concrete.4). He has done me many kindnesses. (= kind things)Note: Metonymy and synecdoche are essentially the same in principle, and therefore the distinction between these two figures is now regarded as of little practical value.6. Hyperbole (夸张)Hyperbole is a figure of speech which gently exaggerates the truth. In hyperbole, things are represented as greater or less, better or worse, than they really are.夸张是指在事实的基础上进行夸大，用来抒发作者或说话人的强烈感情，表达自己的深刻感受。

1). I haven’t seen you for ages.(while in fact it was only two weeks ago that you parted.)2). A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes. 真理刚刚穿上鞋子，谎言就走了大半个世界。

3). Had Cleopatra’s nose been shorter, the whole face of the world would have beendifferent.（Cleopatra “埃及艳后”，美妙绝伦。