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






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






3. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






4. 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.)






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






6. The underlying message






7. Events that take place before the story begins






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






9. Words which evoke sorrow






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






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






12. A formal speech praising one who has died






13. A metaphor which changes and grows throughout the story






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






15. Deliberately unclear - having multiple meanings






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






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






18. Contrasting words placed together for effect






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






20. Emotional definition of a word






21. Words that create mental pictures






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






23. Emotional response of the reader






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






25. A question that does not expect an explicit answer






26. Pattern; repeated image - symbol - idea






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






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






29. Word choice






30. A moment of great revelation






31. A sermon or moralistic lecture






32. Inanimate objects or abstract ideas given human characteristics






33. A direct comparison






34. Writing whose purpose is to instruct or teach






35. A political comment through the use of humor






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






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






38. An overused expression






39. The recreation of regional spoken language






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






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






42. When the story begins






43. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






44. A word that represents a larger idea or concept






45. A mistake in reasoning






46. A story that functions on the symbolic level






47. Using the same word or phrase for emphasis






48. Direct contrast or opposite






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






50. A comparison using like or as