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






2. A comparison using like or as






3. Direct contrast or opposite






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






5. A word that represents a larger idea or concept






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






7. The underlying message






8. A moment of great revelation






9. Pattern; repeated image - symbol - idea






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






11. Dictionary definition of a word






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






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






14. Sound words - imitative harmony






15. A formal - often pompous - speech






16. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






17. An overused expression






18. Deliberately unclear - having multiple meanings






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






20. A formal speech praising one who has died






21. Words which evoke sorrow






22. Same ending sounds






23. A sermon or moralistic lecture






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






25. A direct comparison






26. Technical - specialized language






27. A metaphor which changes and grows throughout the story






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






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






30. A question that does not expect an explicit answer






31. A part is used to represent the whole (crown=king)






32. Where the audience knows more than the character






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






34. A comparison between two dissimilar ideas or things






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






36. A numbered list






37. The recreation of regional spoken language






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






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






40. Change and growth of the character






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






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






43. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






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






45. A conclusion that can be arrived at without any observations of the world - but relies only on logical connections between ideas






46. Describing something indirectly by referring to things around it






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






48. Literary - historical - artistic reference






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






50. Writing whose purpose is to instruct or teach