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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. Ashort account of an interesting or humorous incident - intended to illustrate or support some point






2. A sermon or moralistic lecture






3. A particularly clever extended metaphor






4. Dictionary definition of a word






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






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






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






8. Same beginning sound






9. A word that represents a larger idea or concept






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






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






12. Describing something indirectly by referring to things around it






13. A comparison between two dissimilar ideas or things






14. Using the same word or phrase for emphasis






15. Scholarly - academic writing that is difficult to understand






16. Literary - historical - artistic reference






17. Word choice






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






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






20. A political comment through the use of humor






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






22. Exaggeration






23. Emotional response of the reader






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






25. Where the audience knows more than the character






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






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






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






29. A story that functions on the symbolic level






30. When the story begins






31. Unexpected outcome in the plot






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






33. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






34. Contrasting words placed together for effect






35. A question that does not expect an explicit answer






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






37. The recreation of regional spoken language






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






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






40. Change and growth of the character






41. The manipulation of words for a specific purpose






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






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






44. Writing whose purpose is to instruct or teach






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






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






47. An overused expression






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






49. The underlying message






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