Test your basic knowledge |

Literary And Rhetorical Vocab

Subject : english
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

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 term for the title character of a work of literature






2. A verse with five poetic feet per line






3. An extended narrative about improbable events and extraordinary people in exotic places






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






5. A belief that emphasizes faith and optimism in human potential and creativity






6. A piece of writing that reveals weaknesses - faults - frailties - or other shortcomings






7. A narrative poem that tells of the adventures and exploits of a hero






8. A brief explanation - summary - or evaluation of a text or work of literature






9. A highly regarded work of literature or other art form that has withstood the test of time






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






11. A term that describes a line of poetry that ends with a natural pause often indicated by a mark of punctuation






12. A saying or proverb containing a truth based on experience and often couched in metaphorical language






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






14. The main character in a work of literature






15. Sentence with interrogative pronouns






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






17. The high point - or turning point - of a story or play






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






19. A statement that seems self-contradictory but is nevertheless true






20. A forceful sermon - lecture or tirade






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






22. Ordinary or familiar - used to describe diction






23. A humorous play on words - using similar sounding or identical words to suggest different meanings






24. An adjective that follows a linking verb






25. A figure of speech in which a part signifies the whole or the whole signifies the part - also when the name of a material stands for the thing itself






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






27. The resolution that occurs at the end of a play or work of fiction






28. The language of a work and its style; words - often highly emotional - used to convince or sway an audience






29. The repetition of two or more vowel sounds in a group of words or lines of a poem






30. A figurative comparison using the words like or as






31. The generic name for a figure of speech such as image - symbol - simile and metaphor






32. The author's attitude toward the subject being written about. the characteristic emotion that pervades a work or part of a work--the spirit or quality that is the work's emotional essence






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






34. An imitation of a work meant to ridicule its style and subject






35. A rhetorical opposition or contrast of ideas by means of a grammatical arrangement of words - clauses or sentences






36. A discrepancy between the true meaning of a situation and the literal meaning of the written or spoken words






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






38. The correspondence of a verb with its subject in person and number and of a pronoun with its antecedent in person - number - and gender






39. 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






40. A verbal (often preceded by 'to') that functions as a noun adjective or adverb






41. The use of insincere or overdone sentimentality






42. The emotional tone in a work of literature






43. A vagueness of meaning; a conscious lack of clarity meant to evoke multiple meanings and interpretations






44. A work of literature meant to ridicule a subject; a grotesque imitation






45. The organization of language into meaningful structure; every sentence has a particular syntax or pattern of words






46. The manner in which an author uses and arranges words - shapes ideas - forms sentences and creates a structure to convey ideas






47. Personal - reflective poetry that reveals the speaker's thoughts and feelings about the subject






48. A brief and often simplistic lesson that a reader may infer from a work of literature






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






50. Two or more independent clauses