Test your basic knowledge |

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. Describing something indirectly by referring to things around it






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






3. Writing whose purpose is to instruct or teach






4. Technical - specialized language






5. A formal speech praising one who has died






6. A conclusion drawn from presented details






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






8. Pattern; repeated image - symbol - idea






9. A metaphor which changes and grows throughout the story






10. Same beginning sound






11. A formal argument that consists of a major premise - a minor one - and a conclusion






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






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






14. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






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






16. When the story begins






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






18. Repetition of vowel sounds






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






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






21. Word choice






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






23. Contrasting words placed together for effect






24. A short witty statement






25. Inanimate objects or abstract ideas given human characteristics






26. Where the audience knows more than the character






27. A formal - often pompous - speech






28. An overused expression






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






30. Events that take place before the story begins






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






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






33. Exaggeration






34. Same ending sounds






35. Literary - historical - artistic reference






36. Word order or organization






37. A direct comparison






38. Deliberately unclear - having multiple meanings






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






40. Point of understanding or awakening (not necessarily emotional)






41. Words which evoke sorrow






42. A metaphor around which the entire story revolves






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






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






45. Emotional definition of a word






46. The underlying message






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






48. An unexpected outcome






49. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






50. Sound words - imitative harmony