Test your basic knowledge |

Rhetoric Vocab

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 word that represents a larger idea or concept






2. A direct comparison






3. Making a situation seem less important or serious than it is






4. A formal speech praising one who has died






5. A moment of great revelation






6. A part is used to represent the whole (crown=king)






7. Contrasting words placed together for effect






8. A particularly clever extended metaphor






9. An inscription on a tombstone






10. A formal - often pompous - speech






11. An inference that does not follow logically from the premise (literally - does not follow)






12. A numbered list






13. A device that enables a writer to refer to past thoughts - events - episodes






14. A comparison between two dissimilar ideas or things






15. Sentences - or parts of a sentence with similar structure






16. When the story begins






17. A story that operates on the symbolic level and teaches a lesson or moral






18. A rhetorical strategy that attacks the person rather than the idea






19. A comparison using like or as






20. Same beginning sound






21. Form of personification - speaking to an absent or dead person or object as if it is there






22. Ashort account of an interesting or humorous incident - intended to illustrate or support some point






23. Repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of consecutive lines or sentences






24. Direct contrast or opposite






25. When the reader expects a climax to occur and it doesn't happen






26. A story that functions on the symbolic level






27. Scholarly - academic writing that is difficult to understand






28. Pattern; repeated image - symbol - idea






29. Deliberately unclear - having multiple meanings






30. A metaphor around which the entire story revolves






31. Direct contrast or opposite






32. Dictionary definition of a word






33. Describing something indirectly by referring to things around it






34. The use of a quotation at the beginning of the work which often hints at a theme






35. Repetition of vowel sounds






36. Exaggeration






37. A metaphor which changes and grows throughout the story






38. A statement consisting of two parallel parts in which the second part is reversed ('Susan walked - and in rushed Mary.')






39. Events that take place before the story begins






40. An overused expression






41. Emotional response of the reader






42. Character whose behavior and values contrast with those of another character






43. Inanimate objects or abstract ideas given human characteristics






44. Saying one thing but meaning the opposite






45. A formal argument that consists of a major premise - a minor one - and a conclusion






46. Time and place of a story






47. A type of pun where the use of a word modifies two or more words - but used for different meanings (On the fishing trip - he caught three trout and a cold.)






48. Type of irony in which a person seems to be praising something but actually insulting






49. Words - phrases - ideas placed side by side for effect






50. Point of understanding or awakening (not necessarily emotional)