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. A comparison between two dissimilar ideas or things






2. Change and growth of the character






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






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






5. A metaphor which changes and grows throughout the story






6. A moment of great revelation






7. Pattern; repeated image - symbol - idea






8. Contrasting words placed together for effect






9. When the story begins






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






11. A mistake in reasoning






12. Words which evoke sorrow






13. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






14. Describing something indirectly by referring to things around it






15. Saying one thing but meaning the opposite






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






17. A story that functions on the symbolic level






18. Repetition of vowel sounds






19. Using the same word or phrase for emphasis






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






21. Time and place of a story






22. An overused expression






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






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






25. The recreation of regional spoken language






26. Word order or organization






27. A sermon or moralistic lecture






28. A metaphor around which the entire story revolves






29. Where the audience knows more than the character






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






31. Emotional response of the reader






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






33. A particularly clever extended metaphor






34. The manipulation of words for a specific purpose






35. Writing whose purpose is to instruct or teach






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






37. A word that represents a larger idea or concept






38. A comparison using like or as






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






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






41. Words that create mental pictures






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






43. Sound words - imitative harmony






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






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






46. Direct contrast or opposite






47. A numbered list






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






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






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