Figure of speech

Group 4:Nguyễn Thị NhungNguyễn Thị Hồng NhungNguyễn Đoàn Kim Ngân

SimileDefinition:– Similes is “the use of comparison of one

thing with another”.–Often introduced with the words "like",

"as", or "than".Ex: He fights like a lion. She swims like a dolphin.

MetaphorDefinition: - Metaphor is “the use of a word or phrase to

indicate something different from the literal meaning”

Ex: I will make him eat his words. Her eyes were like glisten jewels.

- Dead metaphors (unconscious or fossilized

metaphors): are used so often that they have lost their

metaphoric characteristics.

-Dead metaphors are in fact idioms or fixed expressions

that native speakers just think directly, unconsciously

of its meaning used in a certain context:

Ex : The legs/face of the table

The back of the chair

Kinds of metaphors:1. Dead metaphors:

2. Live metaphors-Live metaphors (conscious metaphors) are implied

or indirect comparisons which have variety of

figurative meaning through their endless use

-Live metaphors can only be understood after the

implicit comparison is found through serious

consideration, and full appreciation.

Ex: Tom is a pig.

3. Personification

- Personification is a special kind of metaphor

in which some human characteristic is

attributed to an inanimate object or lifeless

things as if they were living.

Ex : Time never waits for anyone.

The flowers begged for water.

ComparisonSimile Metaphor

- A simile is a metaphor- An explicit or direct comparisions- Use function words: like, as, than- Compare two things to create a new meaning.Ex: He’s like a shell of a man.

- Not all metaphors are similes- An explicit or direct comparisions- No function word.- Use one thing to mean another.Ex: He’s become a shell of a man.

METONYMY

DefinitionMeta-: substitutionOnyma: name

Metonymy is the substitution of the name of one thing for that of another which it is related /or associated to.

1. A sign substitutes for the person or the object it signifies or symbolizes

Ex:He succeeded to the crown (= the royal office)She is a fighter against red tape (= bureaucracy,

office routine)The new proposal might affect the cloth (= clergy)

in some way.Backstairs did influence. (= intrigues, secret plans

to do something bad, secret arrangement)Can you protect your children from the cradle to

the grave (= from childhood to death)

2. An instrument substitutes for an agentEx:The pen (=the writer) has more influence than

the sword (=the soldier).Who brought the fire and sword (= the

destructive war) into our country?We need a force of a thousand rifles (= soldiers).

3. An author/ a producer/ a place where goods are made substitutes for his work/ product

Ex:Have you ever read Shakespears.

Synecdoche

Definition:Synecdoche is a special kind of metonymy in

which “ a part or aspect of a person, object is meant to refer to the whole person”.

Ex:They organized a fleet of fifty sails (=ships).He is a man of seventy winter (= years of age).

4. The material substitutes for the thing made.Ex:The marble speaks.All our glass are kept in the cupboard.He was buried under this stone.

5. A container substitutes for the thing contained

Ex:The kettle (= the water in the kettle) is boiling.He drank the cup (= the coffee, the tea, the

chocolate in the cup).The conquerors smote the city (= the inhabitants

in the city).Why don’t you recognize the power of the

purse? (= the money kept in the purse).

Part of something is used to refer to the whole thing and vice versa

7.The abstract substitutes for the concrete.Ex:His Majesty (= the king) died a year ago.His Holiness (=the Pole) has just come back to

Rome.The authorities (= the group of people who have

the power to give orders or take action) put an end the riot.

Russia Soviet Union in the Cold War timeAustralia lost by two goals. Australia’s teamThe city the people in the city

4. The concrete, like an organ of the human body substitutes for the abstract such as love, hated, sincerity, a mental ability, a natural talent…)

Ex:She has an ear for music.He has a head of bussiness.All hands on decks. peopleSouls peopleGray hair older peopleWheels vehicle

A specific class of thing is used to refer to a larger, more general class and vice versa

Ex:Truck four wheel drive vehicleBug any kind of insect or spider

wholexwholemetaphor

HYPERBOLEEx: - Khỏe như voi - Chậm như rùa - Gầy như que củi - Đi guốc trong bụng - Đen như cột nhà cháy

HYPERBOLE• Ex: Lỗ mũi mười tám gánh lông Chồng yêu chồng bảo râu rồng trời cho Đêm nằm thì ngáy o o Chồng yêu chồng bảo ngáy cho vui nhà Đi chợ thì hay ăn quà Chồng yêu chồng bảo về nhà đỡ cơm Trên đầu những rác cùng rơm Chồng yêu chồng bảo hoa thơm rắc đầu.

Hyperbole = Overstatement

The use of “ exaggerated statement” that is made for special effect and is not meant to be taken literally.[Crowther, 1992:446]

HYPERBOLE• Ex:

I’ve invited millions of (= a lot of) to my party.

She sheds floods of tears.(= cries a lot) whenever she is upset.

Don’t live in such a sea of doubt! (= Don’t be too suspicious.)

The bag weighed a ton.( = very heavy)

LITOTES

The use of deliberately gentler, milder, or weaker statements to express something in a controlled way.

LITOTESEx:

a) I don’t think I would agree with you.= I disagree with you.b) I am afraid that no passenger is allowed to

smoke.= You’re are not allowed to smoke in here.c) She is not very tall.= She’s short.d) Tom’s mother has passed away.= She has died.

LITOTESEx: e) She's not the brightest girl in the class. = She's stupid!

f) He's not the most handsome fellow! = He's ugly!

g) They aren't the happiest couple around. = They're unhappy.