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Literary And Rhetorical Vocab

Subject : english
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 high point - or turning point - of a story or play






2. The language spoken in England roughly between 1150 and 1500 AD






3. A novel focusing on and describing social customs and habits of a particular social group






4. A unit of stressed and unstressed syllables used to determine the meter of a poetic line






5. A piece of writing that reveals weaknesses - faults - frailties - or other shortcomings






6. A short - pithy statement of a generally accepted truth or sentiment






7. The quickness of intellect and the power and talent for saying brilliant things that surprise and delight by their unexpectedness; the power to comment subtly and pointedly on the foibles of the passing scene






8. A kind of poetry without rhymed lines - rhythm or fixed metrical feet






9. An eight-line rhyming stanza of a poem






10. Literally 'seize the day'; enjoy life while you can - a common theme in literature






11. The work of poets - particularly those of the seventeenth century - that uses elaborate conceits - is highly intellectual - and expresses the complexities of love and life






12. A brief and often simplistic lesson that a reader may infer from a work of literature






13. A structure that provides premise or setting for a narrative






14. Three periods (. . .) indicating the omission of words in a thought or quotation






15. Pleasing - harmonious sounds






16. A sharp - caustic expression or remark; a bitter jibe or taunt; less subtle than irony






17. A term used to describe literary forms such as novel - play and essay






18. A figurative comparison using the words like or as






19. A figure of speech in which a word or phrase can be understood in two ways especially when one meaning is risque






20. The general form - pattern - and manner of expression of a work of literature






21. A rhetorical opposition or contrast of ideas by means of a grammatical arrangement of words - clauses or sentences






22. The background and events that lead to the presentation of the main idea or purpose of a work of literature






23. Faulty reasoning that inappropriately ascribes human feelings to nature or non-human objects






24. A rendering of a quotation in which actual words are not stated but only approximated or paraphrased






25. A sentence containing a deliberate omission of words






26. The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables that make up a line of poetry






27. The pattern of rhymes within a given poems






28. A term that describes a line of poetry that ends with a natural pause often indicated by a mark of punctuation






29. A saying or proverb expressing common wisdom or truth






30. A term consisting of contradictory elements juxtaposed to create a paradoxical effect






31. Language that describes specific - observable things






32. Inflated - pretentious language used for trivial subjects






33. A form of verse or prose that tells a story






34. The excessive pride that often leads tragic heroes to their death






35. A poet; in olden times - a performer who told heroic stories to musical accompaniment






36. A circumstance in which the audience or reader knows more about a situation than a character






37. A verse with five poetic feet per line






38. A statement or idea that fails to follow logically from the one before






39. A series of comparisons between two unlike objects






40. The implied meaning that underlies the main meaning of a work of literature






41. A parody of traditional epic form






42. A forceful sermon - lecture or tirade






43. A mild or less negative usage for a harsh or blunt term






44. An indirect or subtle - usually derogatory implication in expression - an insinuation






45. A verbal ending in 'ing'_ that functions in a sentence as a noun.






46. A subordinate or minor collection of events in an novel or play - usually connected to the main plot






47. One in which two parallel elements are set off against each other like equal weights on a scale.






48. Issues a comand






49. A vagueness of meaning; a conscious lack of clarity meant to evoke multiple meanings and interpretations






50. In poetry - the use of successive lines with no punctuation or pause between them






Can you answer 50 questions in 15 minutes?



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