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






2. Sound words - imitative harmony






3. Technical - specialized language






4. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






5. Time and place of a story






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






7. Word order or organization






8. An overused expression






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






10. A direct comparison






11. Contrasting words placed together for effect






12. Emotional definition of a word






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






14. A word that represents a larger idea or concept






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






16. A sermon or moralistic lecture






17. A formal speech praising one who has died






18. Direct contrast or opposite






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






20. A particularly clever extended metaphor






21. Deliberately unclear - having multiple meanings






22. Writing whose purpose is to instruct or teach






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






24. The answer to a question






25. When the story begins






26. Saying one thing but meaning the opposite






27. The underlying message






28. Same ending sounds






29. A story that functions on the symbolic level






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






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






32. An inscription on a tombstone






33. A numbered list






34. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






35. The recreation of regional spoken language






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






37. A formal - often pompous - speech






38. Words which evoke sorrow






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






40. A moment of great revelation






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






42. Exaggeration






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






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






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






46. Pattern; repeated image - symbol - idea






47. A mistake in reasoning






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






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






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