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






2. Direct contrast or opposite






3. Deliberately unclear - having multiple meanings






4. Dictionary definition of a word






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






6. Events that take place before the story begins






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






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






9. Direct contrast or opposite






10. Saying one thing but meaning the opposite






11. Same beginning sound






12. A story that functions on the symbolic level






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






14. Words that create mental pictures






15. An overused expression






16. A moment of great revelation






17. Technical - specialized language






18. Words which evoke sorrow






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






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






21. Change and growth of the character






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






23. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






24. Repetition of vowel sounds






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






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






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






28. Emotional definition of a word






29. Time and place of a story






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






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






32. The recreation of regional spoken language






33. Inanimate objects or abstract ideas given human characteristics






34. The manipulation of words for a specific purpose






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






36. A word that represents a larger idea or concept






37. A formal - often pompous - speech






38. Where the audience knows more than the character






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






40. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






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






42. Contrasting words placed together for effect






43. A metaphor which changes and grows throughout the story






44. Sound words - imitative harmony






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






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






47. When the story begins






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






49. The use of slang in writing






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