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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. An inscription on a tombstone






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






3. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






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






5. A metaphor around which the entire story revolves






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






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






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






9. Exaggeration






10. The recreation of regional spoken language






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






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






13. Word order or organization






14. Emotional response of the reader






15. Sound words - imitative harmony






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






17. Literary - historical - artistic reference






18. Inanimate objects or abstract ideas given human characteristics






19. A moment of great revelation






20. An unexpected outcome






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






22. A political comment through the use of humor






23. Writing whose purpose is to instruct or teach






24. When the story begins






25. A comparison using like or as






26. The use of slang in writing






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






28. Direct contrast or opposite






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






30. A direct comparison






31. Change and growth of the character






32. Unexpected outcome in the plot






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






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






35. Emotional definition of a word






36. Deliberately unclear - having multiple meanings






37. Same beginning sound






38. Contrasting words placed together for effect






39. 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.)






40. A word that represents a larger idea or concept






41. A numbered list






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






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






44. A question that does not expect an explicit answer






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






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






47. Words that create mental pictures






48. Words which evoke sorrow






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






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