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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. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






2. When the story begins






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






4. An inscription on a tombstone






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






6. A question that does not expect an explicit answer






7. Technical - specialized language






8. A formal - often pompous - speech






9. Change and growth of the character






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






11. A story that functions on the symbolic level






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






13. An unexpected outcome






14. An overused expression






15. Using the same word or phrase for emphasis






16. Writing whose purpose is to instruct or teach






17. Words that create mental pictures






18. Word choice






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






20. A moment of great revelation






21. Describing something indirectly by referring to things around it






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






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






24. A mistake in reasoning






25. Contrasting words placed together for effect






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






27. A political comment through the use of humor






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






29. A metaphor around which the entire story revolves






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






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






32. Sound words - imitative harmony






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






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






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






36. Exaggeration






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






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






39. Scholarly - academic writing that is difficult to understand






40. Saying one thing but meaning the opposite






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






42. A short witty statement






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






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






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






46. A sermon or moralistic lecture






47. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






48. Events that take place before the story begins






49. Emotional definition of a word






50. A direct comparison