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






2. Change and growth of the character






3. A formal - often pompous - speech






4. A political comment through the use of humor






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






6. Same beginning sound






7. A mistake in reasoning






8. Deliberately unclear - having multiple meanings






9. Saying one thing but meaning the opposite






10. A question that does not expect an explicit answer






11. Literary - historical - artistic reference






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






13. Repetition of vowel sounds






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






15. Dictionary definition of a word






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






17. The manipulation of words for a specific purpose






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






19. Using the same word or phrase for emphasis






20. The underlying message






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






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






23. Scholarly - academic writing that is difficult to understand






24. Time and place of a story






25. Describing something indirectly by referring to things around it






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






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






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






29. Words that create mental pictures






30. 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.)






31. Direct contrast or opposite






32. Word choice






33. The recreation of regional spoken language






34. Pattern; repeated image - symbol - idea






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






36. A numbered list






37. Words which evoke sorrow






38. Contrasting words placed together for effect






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






40. A sermon or moralistic lecture






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






42. A story that functions on the symbolic level






43. An inscription on a tombstone






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






45. A short witty statement






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






47. Inanimate objects or abstract ideas given human characteristics






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






49. A formal speech praising one who has died






50. A comparison between two dissimilar ideas or things