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Literary And Rhetorical Vocab

Subject : english
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
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  • Match each statement with the correct term.
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This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. A poem or prose selection that laments or meditates on the passing or death of something or someone of value






2. The total environment for the action in a novel or play. it includes time - place - historical milieu and social - political and even spiritual circumstances






3. A lyric poem or passage that describes a kind of ideal life or place






4. An episodic novel about a roguelike wanderer who lives off his wits






5. A form of understatement in which the negative of the contrary is used to achieve emphasis or intensity






6. A literary form in which events are exaggerated in order to create an extreme emotional response






7. The works considered most important in a national literature or period; works widely read and studied






8. A forceful sermon - lecture or tirade






9. A comedy that contains an extravagant and nonsensical disregard of seriousness - although it may have a serious - scornful purpose






10. Inflated - pretentious language used for trivial subjects






11. In contrast to literal language - implies meanings






12. A story containing unreal - imaginary features






13. A character whose name appears in the title of the novel or play; also known as the eponymous character






14. A character or force in a work of literature that - by opposing the protagonist produces tension or conflict






15. A cleansing of the spirit brought about by the pity and terror of a dramatic tragedy






16. A term that describes characters' excessive emotional response to experience; also nauseatingly nostalgic and mawkish






17. In contrast to Dionysian - it refers to the most noble - godlike qualities of human nature and behavior






18. Two or more independent clauses






19. One in which two parallel elements are set off against each other like equal weights on a scale.






20. A synonym for view or feeling; also a refined and tender emotion in literature






21. A direct verbal assault; a denunciation






22. A narrative told by a character involved in the story - using first person pronouns such as I and we






23. Overstatement; gross exaggeration for rhetorical effect






24. A figure of speech that uses the name of one thing to represent something else with which it is associated






25. An imaginary story that has become an accepted part of the cultural or religious tradition of a group or society






26. The relation in which a narrator or speaker stands to the story or subject matter of a poem






27. The emotional tone in a work of literature






28. The excessive pride that often leads tragic heroes to their death






29. Word choice characterized by simple - often one or two syllable nouns - adjectives - and adverbs






30. The work of poets - particularly those of the seventeenth century - that uses elaborate conceits - is highly intellectual - and expresses the complexities of love and life






31. The origin or derivation of a word






32. A sentence that follows the customary word order of english sentences - ie subject verb object. the main idea of the sentence is presented first and is then followed by one or more subordinate clauses






33. A person - scene - event - or other element in literature that fails to correspond with the time or era in which the work is set






34. The act of determining the meter of a poetic line. the pattern is called scansion. if a verse doesn't 'scan' its meter is irregular






35. Ordinary or familiar - used to describe diction






36. Providing hints of things to come in a story or play






37. A reference to a person - place - or event meant to create an effect or enhance the meaning of an idea






38. Similar to the truth; the quality of realism in a work that persuades readers that they are getting a vision of life as it is






39. A false name or alias used by writers






40. A mode of expression in which the intended meaning is the opposite of what is stated - often implying ridicule or light sarcasm; a state of affairs or events that is the reverse of what might have been expected






41. The dictionary definition of a word. contrast with connotation






42. A metaphor embedded in a sentence rather than expressed directly as a sentence






43. A mild or less negative usage for a harsh or blunt term






44. Novels written for mass consumption - often emphasizing exciting and titillating plots






45. A sentence containing a deliberate omission of words






46. The role or facade that a character assumes or depicts to a reader - a viewer or the world at large






47. An indirect or subtle - usually derogatory implication in expression - an insinuation






48. A term often used as a synonym for realism; also a view of experience that is generally characterized as bleak and pessimistic






49. A style of writing in which the author tries to reproduce the random flow of thoughts in the human mind






50. A verbal ending in 'ing'_ that functions in a sentence as a noun.