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 main character in a work of literature






2. 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






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






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






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






6. 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






7. Inflated - pretentious language used for trivial subjects






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






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






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






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






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






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






14. A comedy that contains an extravagant and nonsensical disregard of seriousness - although it may have a serious - scornful purpose






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






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






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






18. A return to an earlier time in a story or play in order to clarify present actions or circumstances






19. A unit of stressed and unstressed syllables used to determine the meter of a poetic line






20. A character whose name appears in the title of the novel or play; also known as the eponymous character






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






22. The repetition of one or more initial consonants in a group of words or lines in a poem






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






24. The generic name for a figure of speech such as image - symbol - simile and metaphor






25. French term for the world of books - criticism - and literature in general






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






27. Overstatement; gross exaggeration for rhetorical effect






28. A story in which a second meaning is to be read beneath the surface






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






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






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






32. 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






33. Novels written for mass consumption - often emphasizing exciting and titillating plots






34. The use of words whose sounds suggest their meaning






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






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






37. Issues a comand






38. A series of comparisons between two unlike objects






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






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






41. 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






42. The grammar of meter and rhythm in poetry






43. A sentence that follows the customary word order of english sentences - ie subject verb object. the main idea of the sentence is presented first and is then followed by one or more subordinate clauses






44. A work of literature dealing with rural life






45. A figurative comparison using the words like or as






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






47. A verse with five poetic feet per line






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






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






50. A story containing unreal - imaginary features