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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 particularly clever extended metaphor






3. Writing whose purpose is to instruct or teach






4. Repetition of vowel sounds






5. Sound words - imitative harmony






6. Direct contrast or opposite






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






8. Inanimate objects or abstract ideas given human characteristics






9. A formal speech praising one who has died






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






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






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






13. A question that does not expect an explicit answer






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






15. Time and place of a story






16. An inscription on a tombstone






17. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






18. A metaphor which changes and grows throughout the story






19. When the story begins






20. An unexpected outcome






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






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






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






24. A metaphor around which the entire story revolves






25. A political comment through the use of humor






26. Word choice






27. A form of logic that moves from the general to the specific






28. A story that functions on the symbolic level






29. Emotional definition of a word






30. Events that take place before the story begins






31. Technical - specialized language






32. A short witty statement






33. A sermon or moralistic lecture






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






35. The manipulation of words for a specific purpose






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






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






38. Unexpected outcome in the plot






39. The underlying message






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






41. Describing something indirectly by referring to things around it






42. Contrasting words placed together for effect






43. Emotional response of the reader






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






45. Scholarly - academic writing that is difficult to understand






46. A word that represents a larger idea or concept






47. Exaggeration






48. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






49. Same beginning sound






50. Deliberately unclear - having multiple meanings