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






2. A moment of great revelation






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






4. Inanimate objects or abstract ideas given human characteristics






5. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






6. Dictionary definition of a word






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






8. A comparison between two dissimilar ideas or things






9. The underlying message






10. Exaggeration






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






12. Repetition of vowel sounds






13. Emotional definition of a word






14. Events that take place before the story begins






15. Word order or organization






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






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






18. Same ending sounds






19. The use of slang in writing






20. Where the audience knows more than the character






21. A metaphor which changes and grows throughout the story






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






23. Deliberately unclear - having multiple meanings






24. A formal speech praising one who has died






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






26. A type of pun where the use of a word modifies two or more words - but used for different meanings (On the fishing trip - he caught three trout and a cold.)






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






28. Time and place of a story






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






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






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






32. Pattern; repeated image - symbol - idea






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






34. A sermon or moralistic lecture






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






36. An inscription on a tombstone






37. Emotional response of the reader






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






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






40. A conclusion drawn from presented details






41. The manipulation of words for a specific purpose






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






43. Contrasting words placed together for effect






44. A word that represents a larger idea or concept






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






46. Direct contrast or opposite






47. Word choice






48. A form of logic that moves from the general to the specific






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






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