6. Transferred Epithet
It refers to the term relating to one kind of sense-impression are used to describe senseimpression of other kinds. For example: 1) He had some cheerful wine at the party.. 2) He gave me a sour look. 3) There was an amazed silence. Slowly Alexander turned away. 4) The big man crashed down on a protesting chair.
2. Synecdoche 提喻 (1) The part for the whole e.g. lend me your ears (give me your attention） He has many mouths to feed in his family. Could you pass me a Kleenex [facial tissue]? (2) The whole for the part e.g. Then the surgeon cut me up and took out the appendix and stitched me up again.
Money is the lens in a camera. Nothing. No tracks but my own are stitched into the dusting of fresh snow, white as birch bark, that fell during the night. No flittering shadows in the trees, not a sliver of bird song in the air.
(3) Nothing
Gold Can Stay -- Robert Frost Nature’s first green is gold, Her hardest hue to hold, Her early leaf’s a flower, But only so an hour Then leaf subsides to leaf So Eden sank to grief So dawn goes down to day Nothing gold can stay
Unit Three
Stylistic Functions of Lexical Items (Rhetorical Devices)
黄勇博士 alec5120@
Lexical Rhetorical Devices
Simile / Metaphor Synecdoche Metonymy Antonomasia Oxymoron Transferred Epithet Hyperbole Understatement Euphemism Pun
4. Antonomasia 换称
Definition: Substituting a descriptive phrase for a proper name, or substituting a proper name for a quality associated with it. (1) Biblical or mythological figure Solomon – a wise man Daniel – a wise and fair judge (2) Historical figures Nero – a tyrant John Wayne – a modern figure of a tough guy
7. Hyperbole (Overstatement)
Definition: It distorts the truth by great exaggeration. It is usually used to emphasize strong feeling and to create a sentimental, satiric or comic effect. Example: 1. For she was beautiful – her beauty made The bright world dim, and everything beside Seemed like a fleeting image of a shade. (Shelley)
3. Metonymy 换喻 Definition: Reference to something or someone by naming one of its attributes or using the part to name the whole (1)So, during any five-week shape-up, focus more on the tape measure than on the bathroom scale. (2)I’ve come to pick your brains. You’re an economist and I’ve been asked this question about economy. (3)He decided to enter the bar after college.
(2) Metaphor
fossilized / stock / recently created /original In the middle of the picnic, it started to rain cats and dogs, and everybody got soaked. While we were busy eating a picnic, a storm cloud suddenly appeared and everybody got soaked. She was in a flood of tears. Strawberries flooded the market and prices dropped down.
1. Simile / Metaphor (1) Simile like, as, as if, as though, as … as, similar to, to bear a resemblance to … She spoke hurriedly, as if her heart had leaped into her throat at the boy’s words. 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 waves are like the people in a crowd going to a football match, justling and bumping into one another.
Example: 1. She was not without ambition. (She was quite ambition.) 2. Thomas blushed again, and when a few more words had been said of a not unpleasing kind, Venn mounted his horse and rode on. 3. The door was not a long time opening, but there was no hurry in the way it moved on its hinges. The movement of the door was as if, whoever she was, she had nothing in the world to fear. The the door was open, and there she was.
Ex: Rewrite the following by using Understatement: 1. They were greatly surprised at the outcome. 2. It’s rather difficult to restore peace in that area. 3. Do you know which bus I ould take to the natural museum? 4. That’s a serious matter.
(3) Literary figures Uncle Tom – a Negro who compromises and confirms with Whites He still has very youthful enthusiasms, and he’s slim and fit as he was 20 years ago. He’s a Peter Pan. Come on, Rip Van Winkle, wake up! It’s nearly lunch-time.
2. The Keebler Elves have baked up the lightest, crispiest snacks ever to be called crackers. These extra thin bite-size crackers are rippled with zesty seasonings and crunch just like your favorite chips, but they’re baked, not fried. They’re the perfect snack for munching by the handful.