An Analysis of Figures of Speech from the Perspective of Relevance Theory-Case Study of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

Abstract

This paper attempts to analyze the use of various figures of speech in literature from the perspective of Relevance Theory and take the figures of speech used in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland as an example. By using the Relevance theory, an important theory of cognitive pragmatics, the author tries to interpret the process of readers’ understanding these figures of speech when reading the novel. In this paper, five important figures of speech, including parody, pun, malapropism, simile and allusion have be discussed respectively. After analysis of the figures of speech under the guidance of Relevance Theory, some main findings have been obtained. Firstly, the understanding all of the figures of speech appropriately involves a process of ostention and inferences, getting the optimal contextual effects and seeking the optimal relevance between the speaker and the addressee. Secondly, the analysis of the figures of speech used in the novel gives some important hits to the reasons or mechanism of the humorous and critical effects of this novel. All in all, this study provides a little experience towards the study of the use of figures of speech used in literature. Hopefully, its efforts will make some contributions to the future research.