On the figures of speech in Of Study

毛慧青

【Abstract】Of Study is a masterpiece of Francis Bacon， which is worth reading from generation to generation.In a sense， figures of speech make the work worthwhile to read.Figures of speech pervade and embellish the world of language， making language more colorful， forceful， and explicit.Of Study exemplifies it.The thesis appreciates the great work in the perspective of figures of speech to cultivate a wider appreciation of the rhetoric art.

【Key words】Of Study； figures of speech； rhetoric art

There are several types of figures of speech.To sum up， it can be analyzed from four aspects： syntactic figures of speech， semantic figures of speech， logical figures of speech， and phonetic figures of speech.

1.Syntactic figures of speech in Of Study

Use of parallelism

Parallelism means the balancing of sentence elements that are grammatically equal.In Of Study， Bacon uses parallelism to create a strong rhythm and powerful language to clarify and beautify a thought.Here are some examples：

a.Studies serve for delight， for ornament， and for ability.（parallel phrases）

The sentence illustrates the benefits， functions and purposes of study and inspires the readers to study.Delight， ornament， and ability are stressed， which can be easily caught by the readers and indelibly imprinted in their mind.

b.Crafty men contemn studies， simple men admire them， and wise men use them.（parallel sentences）

By using parallelism in this sentence， Bacon maps out a picture in front of the readers for having a glimpse of the attitudes towards study of the three kinds of men.As to the features of language， parallelism can make it concise， logical， and well-structured.

Use of climax

Climax is the arrangement of words， phrases， clauses or sentences in order of importance.Ideas arranged in such way develop gradually， like climbing a ladder.Here is an example in the essay.

c.Reading makes a full man； conference a ready man； and writing an exact man.

Climax used in this sentence conveys the thought in ascending order of force and intensity， from light to weight.It is effectively in stirring up feelings and emotions.

Use of ellipsis

Ellipsis refers to omit deliberately from a sentence， though the meaning can still be understood.It makes the sentence more economical and concise.Here are some examples：

d.Histories make men wise； poets witty； the mathematics subtile； natural philosophy deep； moral grave； logic and rhetoric able to contend.（ omitting the verbs）

Ellipsis employed in this sentence achieves an accumulative effect.It emphasizes the closeness of the relation.Moreover， ellipsis can quicken the tempo， achieve brevity and compactness.Readers feel that all of them could be fulfilled by reading.

2.Semantic figures of speech in Of Study

Use of smile

Simile means that two concepts or two dissimilar things are imaginatively and descriptively compared because they have at least one quality or characteristic in common or in resemblance.（Figures of Speech， textbook P.158） Here are some examples：

e.For natural abilities are like natural plants， that need proyning by study.

In this sentence， Bacon compares the natural abilities to plants.The similarity between them is that both of them need pronying and trimming for better growth.Simile makes the description more vivid and unpacks the denotative meaning—ability is generated from study.

Use of metaphor

Metaphor uses words to indicate something different from their literal meaning.Here are some examples：

f.Some books are to be tasted， others to be swallowed， and some few to be chewed and digested.

Bacon compares the process of reading to the process of getting nutrition.Metaphor explains the abstract idea in a simple and obvious way， which leaves large space for the readers to imagine.

3.Logical figures of speech in Of Study

Use of analogy

Analogy compares two things， which are alike in several respects to show how ideas or objects are similar to some familiar ones.Here is an example：

g.Nay there is no stand or impediment in the wit， but may be wrought out by fit studies： like as diseases of the body may have appropriate exercises.

Through analogy， the concept that reading smoothes our process of study in the wit is compared to the other concept that doing exercises could strengthen our body.It establishes the pattern of reasoning and makes the passage convincing.

4.Phonetic figures of speech in Of Study.

Use of alliteration.

Alliteration means “repeating and playing upon the same letter” （Figures of Speech P.91） and it can achieves a special musical effect and helps to memorize.Here is an example：

h.Crafty men contemn studies， simple men admire them，

By highlight the sounds of words， alliteration is like rhyme and it catches the readers ears and helps the readers to recite it easily.

Use of consonance

It refers to the repetition of the final and identical consonants whose preceding vowels are different.

i.Some books are to be tasted， others to be swallowed， and some few to be chewed and digested.

Consonance harmonizes the rhyme of the sentence and makes it more rhythmic and more appealing.

To sum up， Of Study has different kinds of figures of speech， brimful with vividness， explicitness， and eloquence.From the analysis of the essay， we can profoundly feel the charm of rhetoric art.Therefore， we need to pay close attention to figures of speech in language use.

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