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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. Contrasting words placed together for effect






2. Literary - historical - artistic reference






3. Unexpected outcome in the plot






4. A mistake in reasoning






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






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






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






8. Direct contrast or opposite






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






10. Deliberately unclear - having multiple meanings






11. A short witty statement






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






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






14. Time and place of a story






15. A comparison using like or as






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






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






18. The recreation of regional spoken language






19. Technical - specialized language






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






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






22. Writing whose purpose is to instruct or teach






23. Inanimate objects or abstract ideas given human characteristics






24. A political comment through the use of humor






25. A formal - often pompous - speech






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






27. Emotional response of the reader






28. A sermon or moralistic lecture






29. A metaphor which changes and grows throughout the story






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






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






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






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






34. A direct comparison






35. Events that take place before the story begins






36. When the story begins






37. A conclusion drawn from presented details






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






39. A formal speech praising one who has died






40. An unexpected outcome






41. Describing something indirectly by referring to things around it






42. A comparison between two dissimilar ideas or things






43. Saying one thing but meaning the opposite






44. A metaphor around which the entire story revolves






45. Emotional definition of a word






46. Sound words - imitative harmony






47. Change and growth of the character






48. Direct contrast or opposite






49. Word order or organization






50. Scholarly - academic writing that is difficult to understand