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. Direct contrast or opposite






2. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






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






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






5. Events that take place before the story begins






6. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






7. A numbered list






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






9. An unexpected outcome






10. Change and growth of the character






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






12. Using the same word or phrase for emphasis






13. A sermon or moralistic lecture






14. Literary - historical - artistic reference






15. An overused expression






16. Describing something indirectly by referring to things around it






17. Deliberately unclear - having multiple meanings






18. Scholarly - academic writing that is difficult to understand






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






20. Emotional definition of a word






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






22. A comparison between two dissimilar ideas or things






23. The use of slang in writing






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






25. A metaphor around which the entire story revolves






26. Pattern; repeated image - symbol - idea






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






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






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






30. Technical - specialized language






31. Saying one thing but meaning the opposite






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






33. Sound words - imitative harmony






34. Emotional response of the reader






35. The recreation of regional spoken language






36. The manipulation of words for a specific purpose






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






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






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






40. Word order or organization






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






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






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






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






45. The answer to a question






46. The underlying message






47. Same ending sounds






48. Exaggeration






49. Repetition of vowel sounds






50. Unexpected outcome in the plot