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






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






3. Contrasting words placed together for effect






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






5. A conclusion drawn from presented details






6. Words that create mental pictures






7. Exaggeration






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






9. The underlying message






10. A political comment through the use of humor






11. The answer to a question






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






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






14. Direct contrast or opposite






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






16. Same ending sounds






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






18. A comparison between two dissimilar ideas or things






19. A metaphor which changes and grows throughout the story






20. Literary - historical - artistic reference






21. Scholarly - academic writing that is difficult to understand






22. Emotional definition of a word






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






24. Using the same word or phrase for emphasis






25. A metaphor around which the entire story revolves






26. A mistake in reasoning






27. The recreation of regional spoken language






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






29. Change and growth of the character






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






31. A sermon or moralistic lecture






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






33. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






34. Technical - specialized language






35. 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.)






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






37. Dictionary definition of a word






38. Where the audience knows more than the character






39. A word that represents a larger idea or concept






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






41. When the story begins






42. Words which evoke sorrow






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






44. A question that does not expect an explicit answer






45. Events that take place before the story begins






46. Sound words - imitative harmony






47. A comparison using like or as






48. The use of slang in writing






49. A moment of great revelation






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