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






2. Pattern; repeated image - symbol - idea






3. A comic imitation that ridicules the original. It can be mocking or gently humorous






4. A form a logic that moves from the specific to the general






5. Time and place of a story






6. Literary - historical - artistic reference






7. A direct comparison






8. Events that take place before the story begins






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






10. Repetition of vowel sounds






11. Same beginning sound






12. Unexpected outcome in the plot






13. A comparison using like or as






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






15. A moment of great revelation






16. The use of slang in writing






17. A particularly clever extended metaphor






18. Sound words - imitative harmony






19. The answer to a question






20. Contrasting words placed together for effect






21. A form of personification - only it is not a character in the story






22. A political comment through the use of humor






23. Direct contrast or opposite






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






25. A question that does not expect an explicit answer






26. Words which evoke sorrow






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






28. A short witty statement






29. Where the audience knows more than the character






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






31. A numbered list






32. Scholarly - academic writing that is difficult to understand






33. Writing whose purpose is to instruct or teach






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






35. A conclusion that can be arrived at without any observations of the world - but relies only on logical connections between ideas






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






37. Describing something indirectly by referring to things around it






38. A metaphor around which the entire story revolves






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






40. Emotional response of the reader






41. A detail - image - or character type that occurs frequently in myth and literature - thought to appeal to the unconscious






42. A word that represents a larger idea or concept






43. Clues that tip the reader off as to What is to come later in the work






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






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






46. Emotional definition of a word






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






48. A story that functions on the symbolic level






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






50. Direct contrast or opposite