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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. A formal - often pompous - speech






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






3. A metaphor which changes and grows throughout the story






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






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






6. Saying one thing but meaning the opposite






7. A word that represents a larger idea or concept






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






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






10. An overused expression






11. The underlying message






12. Where the audience knows more than the character






13. Scholarly - academic writing that is difficult to understand






14. Describing something indirectly by referring to things around it






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






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






17. A story that functions on the symbolic level






18. The manipulation of words for a specific purpose






19. Literary - historical - artistic reference






20. A direct comparison






21. Repetition of vowel sounds






22. Words which evoke sorrow






23. Pattern; repeated image - symbol - idea






24. An inscription on a tombstone






25. Same ending sounds






26. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






27. 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.)






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






29. A question that does not expect an explicit answer






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






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






32. A moment of great revelation






33. Words that create mental pictures






34. Unexpected outcome in the plot






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






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






37. A comparison using like or as






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






39. When the story begins






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






41. An unexpected outcome






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






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






44. Inanimate objects or abstract ideas given human characteristics






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






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






47. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






48. A particularly clever extended metaphor






49. Events that take place before the story begins






50. A comparison between two dissimilar ideas or things