Test your basic knowledge |

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






2. The answer to a question






3. Same beginning sound






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






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






6. Sound words - imitative harmony






7. Deliberately unclear - having multiple meanings






8. A conclusion drawn from presented details






9. Time and place of a story






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






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






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






13. A metaphor which changes and grows throughout the story






14. Direct contrast or opposite






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






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






17. The underlying message






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






19. The recreation of regional spoken language






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






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






22. A political comment through the use of humor






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






24. Exaggeration






25. The manipulation of words for a specific purpose






26. A comparison using like or as






27. Words that create mental pictures






28. Same ending sounds






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






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






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






32. Emotional definition of a word






33. A question that does not expect an explicit answer






34. Contrasting words placed together for effect






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






36. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






37. A comparison between two dissimilar ideas or things






38. Dictionary definition of a word






39. Inanimate objects or abstract ideas given human characteristics






40. A formal speech praising one who has died






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






42. An unexpected outcome






43. Literary - historical - artistic reference






44. A particularly clever extended metaphor






45. When the story begins






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






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






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






49. Direct contrast or opposite






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