Test your basic knowledge |

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






2. The suggested or implied meaning of a word or phrase. contrast with denotation






3. A belief that emphasizes faith and optimism in human potential and creativity






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






5. The main idea or meaning - often an abstract idea upon which a work of literature is built






6. A sentence containing a deliberate omission of words






7. French for a novel in which historical events and actual people appear under the guise of fiction






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






9. When the infinitive is interrupted with another word - typically an adverb or adverbial phrase






10. An imaginary story that has become an accepted part of the cultural or religious tradition of a group or society






11. In contrast to Dionysian - it refers to the most noble - godlike qualities of human nature and behavior






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






13. An eight-line rhyming stanza of a poem






14. The pattern of rhymes within a given poems






15. The relation in which a narrator or speaker stands to the story or subject matter of a poem






16. The action in a play or story that occurs after the climax and that leads to the conclusion and often to the resolution of the conflict






17. A discrepancy between the true meaning of a situation and the literal meaning of the written or spoken words






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






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






20. A complex sentence in which the main clause comes first and the subordinate clause follows






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






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






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






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






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






26. Pleasing - harmonious sounds






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






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






29. A quick succession of images or impressions used to express an idea






30. Providing hints of things to come in a story or play






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






32. A false name or alias used by writers






33. A figure of speech that uses the name of one thing to represent something else with which it is associated






34. A narrative poem that tells of the adventures and exploits of a hero






35. Inflated - pretentious language used for trivial subjects






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






37. A style of writing in which the author tries to reproduce the random flow of thoughts in the human mind






38. The high point - or turning point - of a story or play






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






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






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






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






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






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






45. A saying or proverb expressing common wisdom or truth






46. The use of words whose sounds suggest their meaning






47. A term often used as a synonym for realism; also a view of experience that is generally characterized as bleak and pessimistic






48. 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






49. Similar to the truth; the quality of realism in a work that persuades readers that they are getting a vision of life as it is






50. Overstatement; gross exaggeration for rhetorical effect