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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. A word that represents a larger idea or concept






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






4. Words which evoke sorrow






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






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






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






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






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






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






11. The recreation of regional spoken language






12. Words that create mental pictures






13. An overused expression






14. Sound words - imitative harmony






15. Emotional response of the reader






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






17. The manipulation of words for a specific purpose






18. A numbered list






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






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






21. Inanimate objects or abstract ideas given human characteristics






22. A sermon or moralistic lecture






23. Technical - specialized language






24. A particularly clever extended metaphor






25. Where the audience knows more than the character






26. Events that take place before the story begins






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






28. Time and place of a story






29. Deliberately unclear - having multiple meanings






30. A formal speech praising one who has died






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






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






33. Contrasting words placed together for effect






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






35. An inscription on a tombstone






36. Describing something indirectly by referring to things around it






37. Word choice






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






39. An unexpected outcome






40. A direct comparison






41. Saying one thing but meaning the opposite






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






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






44. A metaphor which changes and grows throughout the story






45. The use of slang in writing






46. A political comment through the use of humor






47. A story that functions on the symbolic level






48. Direct contrast or opposite






49. Exaggeration






50. A formal - often pompous - speech