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






2. A formal - often pompous - speech






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






4. Using the same word or phrase for emphasis






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






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






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






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






9. Direct contrast or opposite






10. Saying one thing but meaning the opposite






11. Repetition of vowel sounds






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






13. Same ending sounds






14. Words that create mental pictures






15. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






16. The answer to a question






17. The underlying message






18. When the story begins






19. A numbered list






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






21. A formal speech praising one who has died






22. Describing something indirectly by referring to things around it






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






24. An overused expression






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






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






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






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






29. Pattern; repeated image - symbol - idea






30. Literary - historical - artistic reference






31. Where the audience knows more than the character






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






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






34. Words which evoke sorrow






35. A direct comparison






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






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






38. A word that represents a larger idea or concept






39. Writing whose purpose is to instruct or teach






40. A comparison using like or as






41. Same beginning sound






42. Inanimate objects or abstract ideas given human characteristics






43. Contrasting words placed together for effect






44. Time and place of a story






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






46. Scholarly - academic writing that is difficult to understand






47. Sound words - imitative harmony






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






49. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






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