FiguresofSpeech(simplifiedversion).docVIP

Figures of Speech 1 Simile 明喻 Simile is the most common figure of speech in English. It is not direct statement or description. It is a comparison, but is different from an ordinary, literal comparison. Its form is “subject (tenor) + reference (vehicle)”, indicated by indicators of resemblance (simile markers): like, as, as…as, etc. O my Luve’s like a red, red rose. — by Robert Burns tenor + simile markers + vehicle 2 Metaphor 暗喻 A metaphor is also a comparison between two different things with a similar quality, unlike a simile, the comparison is implied. There are no simile markers. So metaphor is also called “Condensed Simile” Style is the dress of thought. subject + reference 3 Personification 拟人 It makes inanimate objects, natural phenomena, abstractions or animals possess the qualities of human beings. Time and tide wait for no man. 4 Zoosemy 拟物 On the contrary, a zoosemy is to describe human beings with the qualities of animals, plants, inanimate objects or abstractions. She is shedding crocodile tears. 5 Apostrophe顿 speaker or writer directly addresses to an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction. It is often introduced by the exclamation “O”. Apostrophe is often used to convey extreme emotion, for examples: “O eloquent, just, and mighty Death!” 6 Analogy 类比 Analogy is a form of comparison, comparing the two unlike things with many common qualities or points of resemblance, or even the differences. There are four sentence patterns. Water moves in waves the way (that) light travels. 7 Hyperbole 夸张 Hyperbole is the use of overstatement or exaggerated expression in quantity, shape and degree (level) to intensify feelings, to emphasize a point, or to create humour. He almost died laughing. 8 Understatement 低调陈述 Understatement is the opposite of hyperbole, or overstatement. In understatement the words play down the magnitude or value of the subject. It emphasizes a fact by deliberately understating it. Understatement can be divided into Litotes