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






2. 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






3. 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






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






5. The emotional tone in a work of literature






6. An abbreviated synopsis of a longer work of scholarship or research






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






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






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






10. The grammar of meter and rhythm in poetry






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






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






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






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






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






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






17. A brief and often simplistic lesson that a reader may infer from a work of literature






18. A mocking - satirical assault on a person or situation






19. A noun that renames the subject






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






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






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






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






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






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






26. A narrator with unlimited awareness - understanding - and insight of characters - setting - background and all other elements of the story






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






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






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






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






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






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






33. An indirect or subtle - usually derogatory implication in expression - an insinuation






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






35. A term that describes characters' excessive emotional response to experience; also nauseatingly nostalgic and mawkish






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






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






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






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






41. A saying or proverb expressing common wisdom or truth






42. A series of comparisons between two unlike objects






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






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






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






46. The use of insincere or overdone sentimentality






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






48. A german word referring to a novel structured as a series of events that take place as the hero travels in quest of a goal






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






50. The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables found in poetry






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