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






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






3. 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.)






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






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






6. The underlying message






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






8. Literary - historical - artistic reference






9. Using the same word or phrase for emphasis






10. Direct contrast or opposite






11. An overused expression






12. Saying one thing but meaning the opposite






13. Dictionary definition of a word






14. A political comment through the use of humor






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






16. The use of slang in writing






17. Change and growth of the character






18. Where the audience knows more than the character






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






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






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






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






23. Direct contrast or opposite






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






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






26. A short witty statement






27. A direct comparison






28. A question that does not expect an explicit answer






29. Pattern; repeated image - symbol - idea






30. Describing something indirectly by referring to things around it






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






32. A comparison using like or as






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






34. Choices a character makes in relation to an obstacle (problem)






35. An unexpected outcome






36. A story that functions on the symbolic level






37. Scholarly - academic writing that is difficult to understand






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






39. Emotional definition of a word






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






41. Words which evoke sorrow






42. A metaphor which changes and grows throughout the story






43. Deliberately unclear - having multiple meanings






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






45. Word order or organization






46. Sound words - imitative harmony






47. Unexpected outcome in the plot






48. Inanimate objects or abstract ideas given human characteristics






49. Exaggeration






50. The manipulation of words for a specific purpose