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 conclusion drawn from presented details






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






3. A metaphor around which the entire story revolves






4. Contrasting words placed together for effect






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






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






7. Time and place of a story






8. An inscription on a tombstone






9. A short witty statement






10. Events that take place before the story begins






11. Technical - specialized language






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






13. The recreation of regional spoken language






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






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






16. A sermon or moralistic lecture






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






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






19. Pattern; repeated image - symbol - idea






20. The manipulation of words for a specific purpose






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






22. Scholarly - academic writing that is difficult to understand






23. Word choice






24. Literary - historical - artistic reference






25. 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.)






26. A moment of great revelation






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






28. A story that functions on the symbolic level






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






30. Repetition of vowel sounds






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






32. Direct contrast or opposite






33. Describing something indirectly by referring to things around it






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






35. Writing whose purpose is to instruct or teach






36. A particularly clever extended metaphor






37. Same beginning sound






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






39. A comparison between two dissimilar ideas or things






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






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






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






43. Sound words - imitative harmony






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






45. An unexpected outcome






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






47. The underlying message






48. Unexpected outcome in the plot






49. Where the audience knows more than the character






50. The use of slang in writing