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






2. French for a novel in which historical events and actual people appear under the guise of fiction






3. A figure of speech whose effectiveness has been worn out through overuse and excessive familiarity






4. 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






5. A highly regarded work of literature or other art form that has withstood the test of time






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






7. A figure of speech that uses the name of one thing to represent something else with which it is associated






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






9. As opposed to concrete language it represents thoughts






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






11. That element in literature that stimulates pity or sorrow






12. An eight-line rhyming stanza of a poem






13. 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






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






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






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






17. Overstatement; gross exaggeration for rhetorical effect






18. The grammar of meter and rhythm in poetry






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






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






21. The real or assumed personality used by a writer or speaker






22. A false name or alias used by writers






23. 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






24. The dictionary definition of a word. contrast with connotation






25. A pair of rhyming lines in a poem. two rhyming lines in iambic pentameter is sometimes called a heroic couplet






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






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






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






29. A sentence containing a deliberate omission of words






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






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






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






33. 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






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






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






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






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






38. The interrelationship among the events in a story; the plot line is the pattern of events - including exposition - rising action - climax - falling action and resolution






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






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






41. Grating - inharmonious sounds






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






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






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






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






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






47. The resolution that occurs at the end of a play or work of fiction






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






49. A detailed analysis or interpretation of a work of literature






50. Sentence with interrogative pronouns