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Rhetoric Vocab

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 manipulation of words for a specific purpose






2. Same beginning sound






3. A rhetorical strategy that attacks the person rather than the idea






4. Scholarly - academic writing that is difficult to understand






5. A comparison using like or as






6. The underlying message






7. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






8. Inanimate objects or abstract ideas given human characteristics






9. Events that take place before the story begins






10. A metaphor which changes and grows throughout the story






11. Literary devices that enable an author to operate on levels other than the literal (simile - metaphor - etc)






12. A short witty statement






13. Deliberately unclear - having multiple meanings






14. The 'unravelling' or resolution of the story - falling action






15. When the story begins






16. Sound words - imitative harmony






17. A mistake in reasoning






18. Reaching for the sublime - the tone results in the absurd






19. Contrasting words placed together for effect






20. A conclusion that can be arrived at without any observations of the world - but relies only on logical connections between ideas






21. A direct comparison






22. An inference that does not follow logically from the premise (literally - does not follow)






23. Pattern; repeated image - symbol - idea






24. A sermon or moralistic lecture






25. A type of pun where the use of a word modifies two or more words - but used for different meanings (On the fishing trip - he caught three trout and a cold.)






26. The recreation of regional spoken language






27. A political comment through the use of humor






28. A story that operates on the symbolic level and teaches a lesson or moral






29. Point of understanding or awakening (not necessarily emotional)






30. Making something sound nicer than it is; candy-coated words






31. An inscription on a tombstone






32. A formal argument that consists of a major premise - a minor one - and a conclusion






33. A formal speech praising one who has died






34. Direct contrast or opposite






35. Emotional response of the reader






36. Writing whose purpose is to instruct or teach






37. Repetition of vowel sounds






38. A question that does not expect an explicit answer






39. Saying one thing but meaning the opposite






40. Clues that tip the reader off as to What is to come later in the work






41. A particularly clever extended metaphor






42. When the reader expects a climax to occur and it doesn't happen






43. Statement that contradicts itself - "the more you learn the less you know"






44. A formal - often pompous - speech






45. A play on words that are identical or similar in sounds but differ in meaning






46. Change and growth of the character






47. Unexpected outcome in the plot






48. A part is used to represent the whole (crown=king)






49. A moment of great revelation






50. An overused expression