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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. Same beginning sound






2. The use of slang in writing






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






4. Events that take place before the story begins






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






6. A word that represents a larger idea or concept






7. A sermon or moralistic lecture






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






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






10. A conclusion drawn from presented details






11. An inscription on a tombstone






12. A direct comparison






13. The manipulation of words for a specific purpose






14. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






15. Contrasting words placed together for effect






16. Same ending sounds






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






18. A comparison between two dissimilar ideas or things






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






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






21. Reaching for the sublime - the tone results in the absurd






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






23. Word choice






24. Describing something indirectly by referring to things around it






25. Sound words - imitative harmony






26. Dictionary definition of a word






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






28. A political comment through the use of humor






29. Emotional response of the reader






30. Time and place of a story






31. Pattern; repeated image - symbol - idea






32. Writing whose purpose is to instruct or teach






33. An overused expression






34. Unexpected outcome in the plot






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






36. A metaphor which changes and grows throughout the story






37. An unexpected outcome






38. A question that does not expect an explicit answer






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






40. Direct contrast or opposite






41. Exaggeration






42. A particularly clever extended metaphor






43. A moment of great revelation






44. Technical - specialized language






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






46. Change and growth of the character






47. A story that functions on the symbolic level






48. When the story begins






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






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