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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. Words which evoke sorrow






2. A political comment through the use of humor






3. When the story begins






4. Time and place of a story






5. An unexpected outcome






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






7. Describing something indirectly by referring to things around it






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






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






10. Scholarly - academic writing that is difficult to understand






11. A word that represents a larger idea or concept






12. A question that does not expect an explicit answer






13. A device that enables a writer to refer to past thoughts - events - episodes






14. A comparison between two dissimilar ideas or things






15. A metaphor which changes and grows throughout the story






16. Inanimate objects or abstract ideas given human characteristics






17. Writing whose purpose is to instruct or teach






18. Exaggeration






19. An overused expression






20. Direct contrast or opposite






21. The underlying message






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






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






24. An inscription on a tombstone






25. The use of a quotation at the beginning of the work which often hints at a theme






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






27. Direct contrast or opposite






28. Word choice






29. Technical - specialized language






30. A comic imitation that ridicules the original. It can be mocking or gently humorous






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






32. Same ending sounds






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






34. A conclusion drawn from presented details






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






36. The answer to a question






37. Change and growth of the character






38. Sound words - imitative harmony






39. Repetition of vowel sounds






40. Repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of consecutive lines or sentences






41. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






42. Emotional definition of a word






43. The recreation of regional spoken language






44. A formal - often pompous - speech






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






46. Events that take place before the story begins






47. Type of irony in which a person seems to be praising something but actually insulting






48. Words that create mental pictures






49. Same beginning sound






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