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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. Sentences - or parts of a sentence with similar structure






2. Saying one thing but meaning the opposite






3. Scholarly - academic writing that is difficult to understand






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






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






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






7. Contrasting words placed together for effect






8. Pattern; repeated image - symbol - idea






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






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






11. Technical - specialized language






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






13. Direct contrast or opposite






14. A comparison between two dissimilar ideas or things






15. An overused expression






16. A sermon or moralistic lecture






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






18. Inanimate objects or abstract ideas given human characteristics






19. A moment of great revelation






20. Word order or organization






21. A political comment through the use of humor






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






23. Events that take place before the story begins






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






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






26. The recreation of regional spoken language






27. A metaphor around which the entire story revolves






28. Same ending sounds






29. Literary - historical - artistic reference






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






31. Same beginning sound






32. A question that does not expect an explicit answer






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






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






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






36. An inscription on a tombstone






37. Time and place of a story






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






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






40. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






41. Exaggeration






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






43. Using the same word or phrase for emphasis






44. Dictionary definition of a word






45. A conclusion drawn from presented details






46. A short witty statement






47. A numbered list






48. When the story begins






49. A story that functions on the symbolic level






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