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. 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






2. The works considered most important in a national literature or period; works widely read and studied






3. Issues a comand






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






5. A group of two or more lines in poetry combined according to subject matter - rhyme or some other plan






6. Pleasing - harmonious sounds






7. A direct verbal assault; a denunciation






8. The use of insincere or overdone sentimentality






9. An adjective or phrase that expresses a striking quality of a person or thing






10. The manner in which an author uses and arranges words - shapes ideas - forms sentences and creates a structure to convey ideas






11. in literature - the use of an artificial device or gimmick to solve a problem






12. A humorous play on words - using similar sounding or identical words to suggest different meanings






13. A short tale often with nonhuman characters from which a useful lesson may be drawn






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






15. A mocking - satirical assault on a person or situation






16. A verse with five poetic feet per line






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






18. In contrast to literal language - implies meanings






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






20. Language that conveys a speaker's attitude or opinion with regard to a particular subject






21. A noun that renames the subject






22. Grating - inharmonious sounds






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






24. A locution that addresses a person or personified thing not present






25. A simple narrative verse that tells a story that is sung or recited






26. An extended narrative about improbable events and extraordinary people in exotic places






27. A form of understatement in which the negative of the contrary is used to achieve emphasis or intensity






28. A person - scene - event - or other element in literature that fails to correspond with the time or era in which the work is set






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






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






31. A metaphor embedded in a sentence rather than expressed directly as a sentence






32. The grammar of meter and rhythm in poetry






33. A comparison that points out similarities between two dissimilar things






34. The emotional tone in a work of literature






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






36. A term that describes characters' excessive emotional response to experience; also nauseatingly nostalgic and mawkish






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






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






39. An eight-line rhyming stanza of a poem






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






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






42. A term for the title character of a work of literature






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






44. Inflated - pretentious language used for trivial subjects






45. A figurative comparison using the words like or as






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






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






48. A synonym for poetry. also - a group of lines in a song or poem; also a single line of poetry






49. A verbal (often preceded by 'to') that functions as a noun adjective or adverb






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