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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. A story that functions on the symbolic level






2. The recreation of regional spoken language






3. A comparison between two dissimilar ideas or things






4. Saying one thing but meaning the opposite






5. A metaphor which changes and grows throughout the story






6. When the story begins






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






8. Contrasting words placed together for effect






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






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






11. A formal speech praising one who has died






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






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






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






15. Time and place of a story






16. Direct contrast or opposite






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






18. Events that take place before the story begins






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






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






21. An overused expression






22. Sound words - imitative harmony






23. Where the audience knows more than the character






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






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






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






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






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






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






30. A moment of great revelation






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






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






33. Word order or organization






34. Emotional definition of a word






35. Deliberately unclear - having multiple meanings






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






37. Emotional response of the reader






38. A formal - often pompous - speech






39. Same ending sounds






40. Pattern; repeated image - symbol - idea






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






42. Exaggeration






43. A particularly clever extended metaphor






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






45. Literary - historical - artistic reference






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






47. An inscription on a tombstone






48. A short witty statement






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






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