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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. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






2. Inanimate objects or abstract ideas given human characteristics






3. A formal - often pompous - speech






4. A numbered list






5. Emotional response of the reader






6. 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.)






7. Same beginning sound






8. Writing whose purpose is to instruct or teach






9. Word choice






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






11. A short witty statement






12. Words which evoke sorrow






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






14. Literary - historical - artistic reference






15. Literary devices that enable an author to operate on levels other than the literal (simile - metaphor - etc)






16. Statement that contradicts itself - "the more you learn the less you know"






17. Change and growth of the character






18. A sermon or moralistic lecture






19. A play on words that are identical or similar in sounds but differ in meaning






20. Contrasting words placed together for effect






21. The underlying message






22. Describing something indirectly by referring to things around it






23. Deliberately unclear - having multiple meanings






24. Dictionary definition of a word






25. The 'unravelling' or resolution of the story - falling action






26. Saying one thing but meaning the opposite






27. Where the audience knows more than the character






28. The manipulation of words for a specific purpose






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






30. Pattern; repeated image - symbol - idea






31. A direct comparison






32. A conclusion drawn from presented details






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






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






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






36. Exaggeration






37. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






38. Making something sound nicer than it is; candy-coated words






39. Attitude the narrator wants the reader to take toward a setting - character - or idea






40. Repetition of vowel sounds






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






42. Words that create mental pictures






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






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






45. A metaphor which changes and grows throughout the story






46. Reaching for the sublime - the tone results in the absurd






47. A mistake in reasoning






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






49. A metaphor around which the entire story revolves






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