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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 metaphor which changes and grows throughout the story






2. A question that does not expect an explicit answer






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






4. Literary - historical - artistic reference






5. Choices a character makes in relation to an obstacle (problem)






6. A particularly clever extended metaphor






7. Word order or organization






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






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






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






11. Sound words - imitative harmony






12. A moment of great revelation






13. A political comment through the use of humor






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






15. Contrasting words placed together for effect






16. Describing something indirectly by referring to things around it






17. A sermon or moralistic lecture






18. Using the same word or phrase for emphasis






19. The answer to a question






20. Emotional response of the reader






21. Words that create mental pictures






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






23. A short witty statement






24. Events that take place before the story begins






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






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






27. Scholarly - academic writing that is difficult to understand






28. A comparison using like or as






29. A metaphor around which the entire story revolves






30. Repetition of vowel sounds






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






32. The manipulation of words for a specific purpose






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






34. When the story begins






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






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






37. Saying one thing but meaning the opposite






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






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






40. Pattern; repeated image - symbol - idea






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






42. Exaggeration






43. A numbered list






44. Deliberately unclear - having multiple meanings






45. Time and place of a story






46. Dictionary definition of a word






47. An inscription on a tombstone






48. The recreation of regional spoken language






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






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