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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. Form of personification - speaking to an absent or dead person or object as if it is there






2. A numbered list






3. A metaphor which changes and grows throughout the story






4. An unexpected outcome






5. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






6. Exaggeration






7. Where the audience knows more than the character






8. Saying one thing but meaning the opposite






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






10. A form of personification - only it is not a character in the story






11. Time and place of a story






12. Making a situation seem less important or serious than it is






13. A form a logic that moves from the specific to the general






14. The answer to a question






15. The underlying message






16. A detail - image - or character type that occurs frequently in myth and literature - thought to appeal to the unconscious






17. An inscription on a tombstone






18. Writing whose purpose is to instruct or teach






19. A comparison using like or as






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






21. Word choice






22. A mistake in reasoning






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






24. Emotional definition of a word






25. Same beginning sound






26. A particularly clever extended metaphor






27. Unexpected outcome in the plot






28. Events that take place before the story begins






29. Deliberately unclear - having multiple meanings






30. A political comment through the use of humor






31. Literary - historical - artistic reference






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






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






34. Dictionary definition of a word






35. Technical - specialized language






36. A story that functions on the symbolic level






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






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






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






40. Words that create mental pictures






41. A short witty statement






42. An overused expression






43. A word that represents a larger idea or concept






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






45. Ashort account of an interesting or humorous incident - intended to illustrate or support some point






46. The use of slang in writing






47. A statement consisting of two parallel parts in which the second part is reversed ('Susan walked - and in rushed Mary.')






48. Inanimate objects or abstract ideas given human characteristics






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






50. A comparison between two dissimilar ideas or things