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. As opposed to concrete language it represents thoughts






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






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






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






5. deriving from the orderly qualities of ancient greek and roman culture; implies formality - objectivity - simplicity and restraint






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






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






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






9. An abstract or ideal conception of a type; a perfectly typical example; an original model or form






10. 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






11. A verse with five poetic feet per line






12. Sentence with interrogative pronouns






13. An imitation of a work meant to ridicule its style and subject






14. Issues a comand






15. A character or force in a work of literature that - by opposing the protagonist produces tension or conflict






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






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






18. The emotional tone in a work of literature






19. A saying or proverb expressing common wisdom or truth






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






31. The interpretation or analysis of a text






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






33. 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






34. Overstatement; gross exaggeration for rhetorical effect






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






44. A direct verbal assault; a denunciation






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






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






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






48. A concise but ingenious - witty - and thoughtful statement






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






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