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






2. Ashort account of an interesting or humorous incident - intended to illustrate or support some point






3. The use of slang in writing






4. Contrasting words placed together for effect






5. A moment of great revelation






6. Technical - specialized language






7. Direct contrast or opposite






8. A direct comparison






9. Words which evoke sorrow






10. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






11. A comparison using like or as






12. A mistake in reasoning






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






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






15. A metaphor which changes and grows throughout the story






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






17. A formal - often pompous - speech






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






19. A formal speech praising one who has died






20. Where the audience knows more than the character






21. Time and place of a story






22. Inanimate objects or abstract ideas given human characteristics






23. A comparison between two dissimilar ideas or things






24. Saying one thing but meaning the opposite






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






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






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






28. A word that represents a larger idea or concept






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






30. Word choice






31. Describing something indirectly by referring to things around it






32. A metaphor around which the entire story revolves






33. A question that does not expect an explicit answer






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






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






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






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






38. The recreation of regional spoken language






39. The manipulation of words for a specific purpose






40. A sermon or moralistic lecture






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






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






43. Sound words - imitative harmony






44. A numbered list






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






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






47. Events that take place before the story begins






48. A story that functions on the symbolic level






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






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