修辭是在語言與邏輯的基礎上，對文辭與言辭進行修飾的過程，因此與語言風格、文學美學皆有關係。若進一步討論，修辭也有從聽眾出發的定義，從創作者出發的定義，以及從作品出發的定義。中西方關於修辭的學問，皆有長遠的發展史，但所重視的焦點與建構理論的脈絡不甚相同。漢語中「修辭」一詞最早出現於《易經》：「修辭立其誠」，是修飾文辭的意思。西方的修辭學是由亞里士多德發展起來的；這裡的修辭學更適合稱為修辭術或雄辯術，更是指演說的技術。本課程希冀能夠兼容東西方修辭學的優點，概略闡述其理論細節與分析方式，並期待學生能夠將部分理論應用於文學鑑賞及文本研究之中。

Rhetoric is the process of modifying words and speech based on language and logic and is related to language style and literary aesthetics. To further discuss, rhetoric can also be defined in terms of the audience, the creator, and the work. The study of rhetoric in China and the West has a long history of development, but the focus and context of theoretical construction differ significantly. This course hopes to combine the advantages of Eastern and Western rhetoric, briefly explain its theoretical details and analytical methods, and expect students to apply some of the theories to literary appreciation and text research.