Test your basic knowledge |

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. A comparison using like or as






2. An inscription on a tombstone






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






4. Sound words - imitative harmony






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






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






7. Same ending sounds






8. Contrasting words placed together for effect






9. Saying one thing but meaning the opposite






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






11. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






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






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






14. Direct contrast or opposite






15. The manipulation of words for a specific purpose






16. Character whose behavior and values contrast with those of another character






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






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






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






20. A direct comparison






21. Same beginning sound






22. Writing whose purpose is to instruct or teach






23. Unexpected outcome in the plot






24. Emotional response of the reader






25. A word that represents a larger idea or concept






26. Inanimate objects or abstract ideas given human characteristics






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






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






29. A metaphor around which the entire story revolves






30. A political comment through the use of humor






31. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






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






33. 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.)






34. An overused expression






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






36. Dictionary definition of a word






37. A formal speech praising one who has died






38. Events that take place before the story begins






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






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






41. An unexpected outcome






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






43. Word choice






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






45. A short witty statement






46. Words that create mental pictures






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






48. A sermon or moralistic lecture






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






50. Sentences - or parts of a sentence with similar structure