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Literary And Rhetorical Vocab

Subject : english
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
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  • 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 belief that emphasizes faith and optimism in human potential and creativity






2. A pair of rhyming lines in a poem. two rhyming lines in iambic pentameter is sometimes called a heroic couplet






3. A reference to a person - place - or event meant to create an effect or enhance the meaning of an idea






4. A phrase - idea or event that through representation serves to unify or convey a theme in a work of literature






5. The total environment for the action in a novel or play. it includes time - place - historical milieu and social - political and even spiritual circumstances






6. The repetition of similar sounds at regular intervals - used mostly in poetry






7. The correspondence of a verb with its subject in person and number and of a pronoun with its antecedent in person - number - and gender






8. The author's attitude toward the subject being written about. the characteristic emotion that pervades a work or part of a work--the spirit or quality that is the work's emotional essence






9. A grotesque likeness of striking qualities in persons and things






10. The depiction of people - things and events as they really are without idealization or exaggeration for effect






11. A word or phrase representing that which can be seen - touched - tasted - smelled - or felt






12. The act of determining the meter of a poetic line. the pattern is called scansion. if a verse doesn't 'scan' its meter is irregular






13. An adjective that follows a linking verb






14. The use of insincere or overdone sentimentality






15. A familiar grouping of words - especially words that habitually appear together and thereby convey meaning by association






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






17. A story consisting of events from which a moral or spiritual truth may be derived






18. Word choice characterized by simple - often one or two syllable nouns - adjectives - and adverbs






19. A cleansing of the spirit brought about by the pity and terror of a dramatic tragedy






20. A form of verse usually consisting of three four line units called quatrains and a concluding couplet






21. 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






22. A statement that seems self-contradictory but is nevertheless true






23. A synonym for view or feeling; also a refined and tender emotion in literature






24. A lyric poem or passage that describes a kind of ideal life or place






25. A figure of speech that compares unlike objects - without using like or as






26. The main character in a work of literature






27. Inflated - pretentious language used for trivial subjects






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






29. A device employed in anglo-saxon poetry in which the name of a thing is replaced by one of its functions or qualities






30. An abbreviated synopsis of a longer work of scholarship or research






31. The anglo-saxon language spoken in what is now england from approximately 450 to 1150 AD






32. 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






33. The real or assumed personality used by a writer or speaker






34. A literary form in which events are exaggerated in order to create an extreme emotional response






35. The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables found in poetry






36. A figure of speech in which objects and animals are given human characteristics






37. A mode of expression in which the intended meaning is the opposite of what is stated - often implying ridicule or light sarcasm; a state of affairs or events that is the reverse of what might have been expected






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






39. Overstatement; gross exaggeration for rhetorical effect






40. The role or facade that a character assumes or depicts to a reader - a viewer or the world at large






41. The use of words whose sounds suggest their meaning






42. A highly regarded work of literature or other art form that has withstood the test of time






43. A novel in which supernatural horrors and an atmosphere of unknown terrors pervades the action






44. The organization of language into meaningful structure; every sentence has a particular syntax or pattern of words






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






46. One independent clause and no dependent clause






47. The use of one object to evoke ideas and associations not literally part of the original object






48. The pattern of rhymes within a given poems






49. The main idea isn't completed until the end of the sentence






50. A return to an earlier time in a story or play in order to clarify present actions or circumstances