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






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






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






4. Direct contrast or opposite






5. A formal - often pompous - speech






6. A comparison between two dissimilar ideas or things






7. A story that functions on the symbolic level






8. Pattern; repeated image - symbol - idea






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






10. A sermon or moralistic lecture






11. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






12. A mistake in reasoning






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






14. Exaggeration






15. A numbered list






16. A political comment through the use of humor






17. Events that take place before the story begins






18. Technical - specialized language






19. Describing something indirectly by referring to things around it






20. A particularly clever extended metaphor






21. The answer to a question






22. Writing whose purpose is to instruct or teach






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






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






25. Unexpected outcome in the plot






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






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






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






29. Deliberately unclear - having multiple meanings






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






31. Emotional definition of a word






32. A word that represents a larger idea or concept






33. An overused expression






34. Sound words - imitative harmony






35. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






36. Time and place of a story






37. Inanimate objects or abstract ideas given human characteristics






38. A formal speech praising one who has died






39. Word choice






40. Same ending sounds






41. A short witty statement






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






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






44. The use of slang in writing






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






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






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






48. Dictionary definition of a word






49. Repetition of vowel sounds






50. The recreation of regional spoken language