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






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






3. Words that create mental pictures






4. Emotional definition of a word






5. Deliberately unclear - having multiple meanings






6. Exaggeration






7. Word order or organization






8. A word that represents a larger idea or concept






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






10. Time and place of a story






11. A metaphor around which the entire story revolves






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






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






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






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






16. Pattern; repeated image - symbol - idea






17. Saying one thing but meaning the opposite






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






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






20. Using the same word or phrase for emphasis






21. Unexpected outcome in the plot






22. A numbered list






23. An unexpected outcome






24. A comparison using like or as






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






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






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






28. 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.)






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






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






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






32. A comparison between two dissimilar ideas or things






33. Repetition of vowel sounds






34. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






35. A sermon or moralistic lecture






36. Dictionary definition of a word






37. The manipulation of words for a specific purpose






38. The recreation of regional spoken language






39. Describing something indirectly by referring to things around it






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






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






42. Scholarly - academic writing that is difficult to understand






43. Where the audience knows more than the character






44. A direct comparison






45. A mistake in reasoning






46. A particularly clever extended metaphor






47. A formal - often pompous - speech






48. Same ending sounds






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






50. A moment of great revelation