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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. Saying one thing but meaning the opposite






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






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






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






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






6. Deliberately unclear - having multiple meanings






7. Emotional definition of a word






8. The answer to a question






9. A word that represents a larger idea or concept






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






11. Change and growth of the character






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






13. Technical - specialized language






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






15. Repetition of vowel sounds






16. A metaphor which changes and grows throughout the story






17. An inscription on a tombstone






18. Word choice






19. Direct contrast or opposite






20. Time and place of a story






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






22. Same ending sounds






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






24. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






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






26. The recreation of regional spoken language






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






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






29. The use of slang in writing






30. A numbered list






31. 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.)






32. Dictionary definition of a word






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






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






35. Pattern; repeated image - symbol - idea






36. A formal - often pompous - speech






37. Where the audience knows more than the character






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






39. A direct comparison






40. An overused expression






41. A formal speech praising one who has died






42. A mistake in reasoning






43. A comparison between two dissimilar ideas or things






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






45. Using the same word or phrase for emphasis






46. A political comment through the use of humor






47. Scholarly - academic writing that is difficult to understand






48. A question that does not expect an explicit answer






49. A short witty statement






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