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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 political comment through the use of humor






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






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






4. A word that represents a larger idea or concept






5. Emotional definition of a word






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






7. Word choice






8. Where the audience knows more than the character






9. Same ending sounds






10. Same beginning sound






11. Direct contrast or opposite






12. A formal - often pompous - speech






13. The underlying message






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






15. Events that take place before the story begins






16. Sound words - imitative harmony






17. A short witty statement






18. Literary - historical - artistic reference






19. An overused expression






20. A comparison between two dissimilar ideas or things






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






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






23. A particularly clever extended metaphor






24. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






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






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






27. The manipulation of words for a specific purpose






28. Time and place of a story






29. A numbered list






30. The answer to a question






31. Words which evoke sorrow






32. Technical - specialized language






33. Repetition of vowel sounds






34. Form of personification - speaking to an absent or dead person or object as if it is there






35. Inanimate objects or abstract ideas given human characteristics






36. A moment of great revelation






37. Pattern; repeated image - symbol - idea






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






39. A story that functions on the symbolic level






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






41. Direct contrast or opposite






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






43. Scholarly - academic writing that is difficult to understand






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






45. An inscription on a tombstone






46. A formal speech praising one who has died






47. A metaphor around which the entire story revolves






48. Contrasting words placed together for effect






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






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






Can you answer 50 questions in 15 minutes?



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