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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. Sentences - or parts of a sentence with similar structure






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






3. Describing something indirectly by referring to things around it






4. A metaphor which changes and grows throughout the story






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






6. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






7. A sermon or moralistic lecture






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






9. Time and place of a story






10. A numbered list






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






12. Word order or organization






13. Literary - historical - artistic reference






14. When the story begins






15. A political comment through the use of humor






16. Words - phrases - ideas placed side by side for effect






17. A question that does not expect an explicit answer






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






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






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






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






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






23. Pattern; repeated image - symbol - idea






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






25. Deliberately unclear - having multiple meanings






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






27. Exaggeration






28. Choices a character makes in relation to an obstacle (problem)






29. A story that functions on the symbolic level






30. The use of slang in writing






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






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






33. A formal - often pompous - speech






34. Words which evoke sorrow






35. Where the audience knows more than the character






36. Unexpected outcome in the plot






37. Direct contrast or opposite






38. A particularly clever extended metaphor






39. An overused expression






40. 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.)






41. The manipulation of words for a specific purpose






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






43. A comparison between two dissimilar ideas or things






44. Words that create mental pictures






45. The underlying message






46. Saying one thing but meaning the opposite






47. A form of logic that moves from the general to the specific






48. Direct contrast or opposite






49. Emotional definition of a word






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