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






2. The language of a work and its style; words - often highly emotional - used to convince or sway an audience






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






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






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






6. A variety of poetry meant to entertain or amuse - but sometimes with a satirical thrust






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






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






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






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






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






12. That element in literature that stimulates pity or sorrow






13. Two or more independent clauses






14. A saying or proverb expressing common wisdom or truth






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






16. A sentence containing a deliberate omission of words






17. Inflated - pretentious language used for trivial subjects






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






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






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






21. A figure of speech in which a part signifies the whole or the whole signifies the part - also when the name of a material stands for the thing itself






22. A saying or proverb containing a truth based on experience and often couched in metaphorical language






23. The choice of words in oral and written discourse






24. In contrast to literal language - implies meanings






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






26. 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






27. The main character in a work of literature






28. A latin term for a narrative that starts not at the beginning of events but at some other critical point






29. A sentence with one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses






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






31. The repetition of two or more consonant sounds in a group of words or a line of poetry






32. A list of works cited or otherwise relevant to a subject or other work






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






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






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






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






37. The repetition of two or more vowel sounds in a group of words or lines of a poem






38. Grating - inharmonious sounds






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






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






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






42. A pause somewhere in the middle of a verse - often marked by punctuation






43. A work of literature dealing with rural life






44. A false name or alias used by writers






45. 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






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






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






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






49. 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






50. A four-line poem or a four-line unit of a longer poem