6.2.1 Large-scale parallelism 12级商英本三班 李小林 熊莎 章魁华 周燕 吴俏俏 陈玲军

Parallelism Definition : The exact repetition in equivalent position . It differs simple repetition in that the identity does not extend to absolute duplication . (Leech,1969:66) Types : large-scale parallelism small-scale parallelism

Large-scale parallelism Definition : The kind which consists of more than two juxtaposed (并列 ) units.

My Heart Leaps up William Wordsworth My heart leaps up when I behold  A rainbow in the sky, So was it when my life began; So is it now I am a man; So be it when I shall grow old,  Or let me die! The child is father of the man; (paradox) And I could wish my days to be  Bound each to each by natural piety.

Explain: In this poem, the poet has successfully expressed his great reverence for nature which goes beyond the bounds of the past, present, future. The theme is brought out chiefly by the parallelism which exists in lines 3,4, 5. Firstly, the sameness of structure implies the sameness in meaning. This shows that the speaker hopes that his response to seeing a rain bow remains the same throughout the life. Secondly and more importantly, the emotional feeling expressed gets stronger after each juxtaposed unit, reaching its climax in the final parallel unit.

Large-scale parallelism in only one line. I came, I saw, I conquered. ( Julius Caesar) Veni , Vidi , Vici. (Latin） 我所到之处，我所见之事，我所向披靡。 Julius Caesar:(13 July 100 BC[2] – 15 March 44 BC[3]), was a Roman military and political leader. He played a critical role in the transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire. As a politician, Caesar made use of various tactics. He died in the age of 58.

Explain: Firstly, the three clauses are short in length and simple in structure and arranged in chronological order. This generates a feeling that the acts of coming, seeing , and conquering were completed one after another in quick succession. Secondly, the three have the same structure, they form a parallelism. The structural equation of the three clause suggests an equation of meaning. Caesar’s statement thus implies that form him the conquering was as easy as coming and seeing. This then exhibits Caesar’s majestic arrogance.

Large-scale parallelism in fictional prose. He stood behind his desk in the far end of the dim room. The wife liked him. She liked the deadly serious way he received any complaints. She liked his dignity. She liked the way he wanted to serve her. She liked the way he felt about being a hotel-keeper. She liked his old, heavy face and big hands. (Hemingway, cat in the rain) Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961), Main works: The Sun Also Rises , A Farewell to Arms , For Whom the Bell Tolls, The Old Man and the Sea

Explain: Sentence pattern : subject + verb + object The piling up of the parallel sentence emphasizes the point that she liked the hotel-keeper in many ways. The point that the wife liked about the hotel-keeper are just what was lacking in her husband.

Question: What seems to be the chief function of large-scale parallelism?

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