摘要

谚语作为一种特殊的语言形式，是人类智慧的结晶。而修辞学在英语谚语中扮演了一个重要角色，谚语中经常使用各种修辞手法，正是修辞的使用使得英语谚语更加迷人以至于难以忘记。本文总结分析了经常在英语谚语中出现的明喻、暗喻、拟人、比较、对照、夸张、押韵（头韵和尾韵）、矛盾修饰法以及重复等修辞手法，以便于我们更好地学习和使用英语谚语。

关键词：英语谚语，修辞学，修辞手法

Abstract

English proverb is a special language form, a production of human wisdom. The rhetoric plays a vital role in English proverbs. It is because people use a lot of rhetoric devices in English proverbs that make English proverbs charming and unforgettable. This article analyses and summarizes some English proverbs which are frequently used in English proverbs, such as simile, metaphor, personification, contrast, antithesis, hyperbole, alliteration, consonance, oxymoron, and repetition, which is helpful to learn and utilize English proverbs. 

Keywords ：English proverb, rhetoric, rhetoric devices

1.    Introduction
Proverbs, as the accumulation and crystallization of human wisdom and national practice and experience, are the glittering gems of the cultural treasure house in the world. They are fixed sentences that are spread among people and reflect the profound meaning by simple and popular expression. With regards to the ever lasting charm of English proverbs, there are various reasons, the most important of which is the extensive use of English rhetorical devices. The purpose of the use of rhetoric such as trope, personation, antithesis, repetition, rhyme and analogy is to make the proverbs spread widely and profoundly. 
With the rhetoric, we can express our thoughts and emotions better in English proverbs. An English proverb is a stationary statement that widely spreads among the masses of people. Rhetoric plays an important role in language. At the same time, the vocabulary of English proverbs is often easy to understand but meaningful.  In essence, most of the English proverbs contain rhetoric, which makes proverbs more specific, concise and euphemistic. Generally speaking, the application of rhetoric in English proverbs can make people understand and remember them more easily. Rhetoric devices include metaphor, simile, contrast, personification, hyperbole, rhyme, oxymoron etc. In some areas, the study of rhetorical devices is a complex and interesting subject. This paper only discusses the applications of eight kinds of rhetorical devices.