Fundamentals of Rhetoric
The fundamentals of rhetoric are three key concepts: simile, metaphor, and metonymy.
Simile
Simile refers to the comparison between two entities based on one or several shared characteristics. For instance, in the phrase “a cheek like a rose,” the comparison is drawn between the cheek and the rose due to their redness and freshness. Simile consists of four components:
- The comparer: This is the entity that is being compared to another, as in “the girl is like the full moon in beauty.”
- The compared to: This is the entity to which the first entity is being likened, which is also known as the endpoints of the comparison. For example, in “the girl is like the full moon in beauty,” the full moon serves as the comparison point.
- The comparative tool: These are words such as “like” or “as” used to establish the simile. For instance, in “the girl is like the full moon in beauty,” the word “like” functions as the comparative tool.
- The point of comparison: This refers to the shared characteristic(s) between the two entities. For example, in “the girl is like the full moon in beauty,” the point of comparison relates to beauty.
There are different types of simile, including:
- Complete simile: This type includes all four components of simile, such as “hatred is like fire in its burning.”
- Unrestricted simile: Here, the comparative tool is explicitly mentioned, as in “hatred is like fire in its burning,” where “like” is the comparative tool.
- Confirmed simile: In this variation, the comparative tool is omitted, such as in “hatred is fire in its burning,” where hatred is likened to fire without the comparative term.
- General simile: This type lacks a specified point of comparison, for example, “hatred is like fire,” with the precise nature of the comparison being unclear.
- Detailed simile: This type explicitly states the point of comparison, such as “hatred is like fire in its burning.”
- Expressive simile: In this case, both the point of comparison and the comparative tool are omitted, for example, “hatred is fire.”
Metaphor
Metaphor involves using words in a way that suggests meanings other than their literal interpretation, based on a specific relation between the terms. Some common forms of metaphor include:
- Partitive: This occurs when an entity is referred to by one of its parts, implying a reference to the whole. An example can be found in {فَتَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ}, which signifies the emancipation of a slave, using “neck” to represent the slave.
- Wholesome: This is the reverse of the previous relationship, where something is described by its whole while implying a part. For instance, in the phrase {يَجْعَلُونَ أَصَابِعَهُمْ فِي آذَانِهِم}, the term “fingers” refers only to the tips, not the entire fingers.
- Causal: This refers to using the name of a cause when referring to the effect, such as “we awaited the rain,” representing the expected outcome of rain, which is the growth of plants.
- Causative: In contrast, this involves mentioning the effect when the cause is intended. For example, “the sky rained plants,” where “plants” indicates the growth from the rain.
- Locative: This refers to addressing a location while implying the state associated with it. For example, in {إِنَّ الْأَبْرَارَ لَفِي نَعِيمٍ}, the term “delight” refers to the happiness experienced in paradise.
- Conditional: This indicates mentioning the circumstance while referring to the location. An example would be “the people are crowded,” where the street is implied to be crowded with people.
- Retrospective: This signifies naming something by its previous state, as in {وَآتُواْ الْيَتَامَى أَمْوَالَهُمْ}, where “orphans” refers to individuals who were once orphans but have now reached maturity.
- Prospective: This means naming something by its future state, such as {إِنِّي أَرَانِي أَعْصِرُ خَمْرًا}, where the reference is to grapes that will eventually be converted into wine.
Metonymy
Metonymy is a sophisticated form of metaphor involving the omission of one of its components. There are two categories of metonymy:
- Explicit metonymy: This is when the comperator is omitted and only the compared to is mentioned. For example, “the clay forgot it was clay,” where the poet likens a person to clay, omitting the person from the phrase.
- Implicit metonymy: In this form, the compared to is omitted, and the comperator remains. For example, “history spoke to me about the glory of my nation, and I felt pride,” where instead of mentioning the person speaking, “history” is referred to as the comperator.