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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. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






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






3. Emotional definition of a word






4. An inscription on a tombstone






5. Direct contrast or opposite






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






7. Deliberately unclear - having multiple meanings






8. A political comment through the use of humor






9. A comparison using like or as






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






11. A formal speech praising one who has died






12. Words which evoke sorrow






13. A numbered list






14. A particularly clever extended metaphor






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






16. Same beginning sound






17. Using the same word or phrase for emphasis






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






19. The manipulation of words for a specific purpose






20. Words that create mental pictures






21. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






22. Same ending sounds






23. Saying one thing but meaning the opposite






24. A short witty statement






25. Scholarly - academic writing that is difficult to understand






26. Unexpected outcome in the plot






27. Describing something indirectly by referring to things around it






28. Events that take place before the story begins






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






30. When the story begins






31. Sound words - imitative harmony






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






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






34. Emotional response of the reader






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






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






37. Attitude the narrator wants the reader to take toward a setting - character - or idea






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






39. Pattern; repeated image - symbol - idea






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






41. Literary - historical - artistic reference






42. A metaphor which changes and grows throughout the story






43. The recreation of regional spoken language






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






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






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






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






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






49. A metaphor around which the entire story revolves






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