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






2. Grating - inharmonious sounds






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






4. A sentence containing a deliberate omission of words






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






13. A story containing unreal - imaginary features






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






15. 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






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






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






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






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






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






21. A sentence that departs from the usual word order of english sentences by expressing its main thought only at the end. in other words - the particulars in the sentence are presented before the idea they support






22. 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






23. Language or dialect of a particular country - Language of a clan or group - Plain everyday speech






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






25. A rendering of a quotation in which actual words are not stated but only approximated or paraphrased






26. A form of literature in which the hero is destroyed by some character flaw and a set of forces that causes the hero considerable anguish






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






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






29. Pleasing - harmonious sounds






30. A poem or prose selection that laments or meditates on the passing or death of something or someone of value






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






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






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






34. An eight-line rhyming stanza of a poem






35. The emotional tone in a work of literature






36. A term used to describe literary forms such as novel - play and essay






37. A false name or alias used by writers






38. A witty or ingenious thought; a diverting or highly fanciful idea - often stated in figurative language






39. Overstatement; gross exaggeration for rhetorical effect






40. The use of words whose sounds suggest their meaning






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






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






43. A series of comparisons between two unlike objects






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






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






46. Personal - reflective poetry that reveals the speaker's thoughts and feelings about the subject






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






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






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






50. One of the ancient greek goddesses presiding over the arts. the imaginary source of inspiration for an artist or writer