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






2. The answer to a question






3. Same ending sounds






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






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






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






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






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






9. Contrasting words placed together for effect






10. A conclusion drawn from presented details






11. Events that take place before the story begins






12. Word choice






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






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






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






16. Words which evoke sorrow






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






18. Deliberately unclear - having multiple meanings






19. The use of slang in writing






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






21. Exaggeration






22. Time and place of a story






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






24. A political comment through the use of humor






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






26. A comparison between two dissimilar ideas or things






27. Inanimate objects or abstract ideas given human characteristics






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






29. 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.)






30. Words that create mental pictures






31. A comparison using like or as






32. Pattern; repeated image - symbol - idea






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






34. A direct comparison






35. Using the same word or phrase for emphasis






36. An inscription on a tombstone






37. A numbered list






38. The manipulation of words for a specific purpose






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






40. Sound words - imitative harmony






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






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






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






44. Saying one thing but meaning the opposite






45. A word that represents a larger idea or concept






46. A formal speech praising one who has died






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






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






49. An overused expression






50. Where the audience knows more than the character