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Quizzes > Literature & Language > English & Grammar

Identify Rhetorical Devices and Strategies - Take the Quiz!

Ready for a rhetorical strategies quiz? Identify every device now!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Colorful paper art collage featuring free interactive quiz text and words ethos pathos logos on sky blue background

This rhetorical devices quiz helps you spot and name moves writers and speakers use - ethos, pathos, logos, and more - in short, clear examples. Take the quiz to see what to review before a test or speech at school, then practice even more .

What rhetorical appeal relies on the speaker's credibility and character to persuade an audience?
Pathos
Kairos
Ethos
Logos
Ethos refers to the ethical appeal, where a speaker establishes credibility and trustworthiness to persuade the audience. It is one of Aristotle's three modes of persuasion. By demonstrating expertise or good moral character, the speaker gains the audience's confidence. Learn more here: .
Which rhetorical appeal seeks to evoke emotions in the audience?
Ethos
Anecdote
Pathos
Logos
Pathos is the emotional appeal, aiming to elicit feelings such as pity, anger, or joy from the audience. It works by connecting on an emotional level, often through storytelling or vivid language. Effective pathos can move an audience to action or agreement. See more at .
Which rhetorical appeal uses logical reasoning and factual evidence to convince the audience?
Logos
Irony
Ethos
Pathos
Logos is the logical appeal that relies on reasoning, facts, statistics, and rational arguments. It persuades by demonstrating sound logic and evidence. A strong logos appeals to the intellect and sense of reason of the audience. More details at .
Which device is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses?
Anaphora
Alliteration
Assonance
Epistrophe
Anaphora is a rhetorical device where a word or phrase is repeated at the start of successive clauses or sentences. It is used to create emphasis and build rhythm. Many speeches and poems employ anaphora for emotional impact. Learn more at .
Which device is a repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of closely connected words?
Consonance
Onomatopoeia
Assonance
Alliteration
Alliteration is the repetition of initial consonant sounds in neighboring words. It adds musicality and can create mood or emphasis in writing and speech. Poets and speakers use it to make phrases memorable. For details see .
What is a question asked for effect with no answer expected?
Leading question
Euphemism
Rhetorical question
Hypophora
A rhetorical question is posed to make a point rather than elicit an answer. It encourages the audience to reflect on the issue being raised. Rhetorical questions can be powerful persuasive tools. More at .
Which figure of speech compares two different things using 'like' or 'as'?
Personification
Metaphor
Simile
Hyperbole
A simile directly compares two unlike things using 'like' or 'as', highlighting similarities. It makes descriptions vivid and relatable. Unlike a metaphor, which implies the comparison, similes explicitly state it. See .
Identify the rhetorical device in the statement: 'I'm so hungry I could eat a horse.'
Hyperbole
Litotes
Metonymy
Synecdoche
Hyperbole is an intentional exaggeration for emphasis or effect. Saying you could eat a horse is an obvious overstatement to convey extreme hunger. It is not meant to be taken literally. Read more at .
What device is in the phrase 'bittersweet'?
Idiom
Paradox
Oxymoron
Euphemism
An oxymoron combines contradictory terms to create a paradoxical effect. 'Bittersweet' merges opposing tastes to convey mixed emotions. It highlights complexity through contrast. Learn more at .
Which device features the structure ABBA in word order or concepts?
Chiasmus
Antimetabole
Parallelism
Antithesis
Chiasmus arranges ideas in an ABBA structure, creating a mirror effect in the words or concepts. It enhances balance and emphasis in a statement. Antimetabole is similar but requires the exact reversal of words. More at .
Which device places contrasting ideas in parallel grammatical structures?
Chiasmus
Oxymoron
Juxtaposition
Antithesis
Antithesis contrasts opposing ideas in a parallel structure to highlight differences. It creates a clear, memorable distinction between concepts. For example, 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.' See .
Which device draws a comparison to show similarity between two different things?
Analogy
Hyperbole
Simile
Metaphor
An analogy explains one thing by comparing it to something more familiar, illustrating how they are alike. It often uses logical reasoning to clarify complex ideas. Metaphors and similes are shorter, more figurative comparisons. More information at .
Which device uses a part to represent the whole?
Metonymy
Irony
Synecdoche
Metaphor
Synecdoche uses a part of something to refer to the entire entity, like 'wheels' for a car. It creates a vivid, concise reference. Metonymy substitutes something closely related but not necessarily a part. Learn more at .
Which device substitutes the name of an attribute or something closely related for the thing meant?
Hyperbole
Metonymy
Euphemism
Synecdoche
Metonymy replaces the name of something with a related concept, such as 'the White House' for the U.S. president. It's a common rhetorical shortcut. Synecdoche is a specific type that uses a part for the whole. Details at .
What device involves a single word governing two or more others in different senses?
Synecdoche
Ellipsis
Apposition
Zeugma
Zeugma is when one word, usually a verb, applies to two others in different senses, as in 'She opened her door and her heart.' It creates a stylistic effect by linking disparate ideas. Syllepsis is closely related but differs in technical definition. Read more at .
Which device is the exact repetition of words in reverse order?
Polysyndeton
Antimetabole
Isocolon
Chiasmus
Antimetabole is a specific form of chiasmus that repeats words in reverse order for emphasis, like 'Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.' It highlights contrast. Chiasmus may reverse ideas rather than exact words. Details at .
Which device is the repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses?
Anaphora
Epanalepsis
Diacope
Epistrophe
Epistrophe repeats the same word or phrase at the end of successive sentences or clauses. It creates a rhythmic emphasis and strengthens the emotional effect. It is the counterpart to anaphora. Learn more at .
Which device uses multiple conjunctions in close succession for effect?
Polysyndeton
Anadiplosis
Epistrophe
Asyndeton
Polysyndeton deliberately uses more conjunctions than necessary to slow the rhythm or add emphasis, such as 'and, and, and.' It can build tension or convey abundance. Asyndeton is the opposite, omitting conjunctions. See .
Which device omits conjunctions between clauses for a concise, dramatic effect?
Polysyndeton
Zeugma
Asyndeton
Ellipsis
Asyndeton omits conjunctions to create a rapid, impactful sequence, as in 'I came, I saw, I conquered.' It speeds up the cadence and can heighten drama. Polysyndeton, by contrast, uses many conjunctions. More at .
Which device uses an indirect, less harsh word or phrase in place of a more direct one?
Dysphemism
Pleonasm
Euphemism
Metonymy
A euphemism replaces a blunt or unpleasant term with a milder one, like 'passed away' instead of 'died.' It softens the impact of difficult topics. Euphemisms are common in sensitive discourse. Read more at .
Which device uses deliberate understatement for emphasis, often by negating the opposite?
Litotes
Irony
Hyperbole
Understatement
Litotes is a form of understatement that uses negative wording to express a positive, as in 'not bad' to mean 'good.' It can add subtlety or modesty to a statement. It contrasts with hyperbole, which overstates. More at .
Which device repeats the last word or phrase of one clause at the beginning of the next?
Epanalepsis
Epizeuxis
Antanaclasis
Anadiplosis
Anadiplosis takes the last word of one phrase and repeats it at the start of the next, creating a chain of thought. For example, 'Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate.' It builds momentum and focus. Details at .
Which term describes an effect that is overly sentimental or ludicrously anticlimactic, often unintentionally, contrasting with 'pathos'?
Pathos
Ethos
Logos
Bathos
Bathos is the sudden descent from the sublime to the trivial, creating an unintended anti-climactic or comedic effect. It often arises from failed attempts at pathos. Unlike pathos, which sincerely evokes emotion, bathos feels forced or absurd. Learn more at .
What device allows a speaker to anticipate and address audience objections before they are raised?
Aposiopesis
Hypophora
Ethos
Procatalepsis
Procatalepsis involves raising a potential objection and then immediately answering it, demonstrating forethought and control of the argument. It strengthens persuasion by neutralizing criticism. It's a powerful rhetorical strategy in debate and writing. More at .
Which device involves asking a question and then immediately answering it?
Procatalepsis
Enthymeme
Hypophora
Rhetorical question
Hypophora poses a question and then answers it, guiding the audience through the speaker's reasoning. It can introduce new topics or clarify points. Unlike a rhetorical question, it expects and provides an answer. Details at .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Rhetorical Devices -

    Identify rhetorical devices such as ethos, pathos, logos, and other strategies within the interactive rhetorical devices quiz examples.

  2. Differentiate Persuasive Appeals -

    Distinguish among logical, emotional, and ethical appeals in rhetorical strategies quiz scenarios to understand their unique effects.

  3. Analyze Real-World Examples -

    Examine rhetorical devices examples in authentic texts to see how persuasive techniques work in practice.

  4. Apply Rhetorical Strategies -

    Use your understanding to label and explain rhetorical tactics in new passages, reinforcing your analytical skills.

  5. Evaluate Persuasive Impact -

    Assess how different rhetorical devices shape audience responses and strengthen arguments.

  6. Test Rhetorical Devices Knowledge -

    Challenge yourself with interactive questions to test your mastery of rhetorical devices in diverse contexts.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Aristotelian Appeals (Ethos, Pathos, Logos) -

    Aristotle's triad, defined in his Rhetoric and taught at institutions like Harvard and UNC, revolves around ethos (credibility), pathos (emotion), and logos (logic). Identifying these in speeches or texts helps you decode persuasive intent and structure. For example, a public health campaign uses statistics for logos, expert endorsements for ethos, and personal stories for pathos.

  2. Figurative Language: Metaphor vs. Simile -

    Metaphors assert identity between two things ("Time is a thief"), while similes use "like" or "as" to compare ("Time is like a thief"). The Purdue OWL highlights how spotting these devices illuminates nuance in tone and imagery. A handy mnemonic is "M=Metaphor Means it is, S=Simile Sees similarity."

  3. Anaphora and Repetition -

    Repetition at the beginning of successive clauses (anaphora) or recurring key terms intensifies rhythm and emphasis; Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech is a classic example. Research in the Journal of Literary Semantics shows repetition cements ideas in the audience's mind. Practice by marking repeated phrases in editorials or speeches to see this device in action.

  4. Kairos: Timing & Audience -

    Kairos, explored in Oxford's rhetoric curriculum, involves selecting the right moment and tone for maximum impact. Speakers tailor their message to audience values and current context, boosting relevance and persuasion. Keep a simple checklist of audience demographics and topical events to sharpen your kairos awareness.

  5. Mnemonic Trick: HOMER for Device Recall -

    HOMER stands for Hyperbole, Oxymoron, Metaphor, Ethos, Repetition - a mnemonic backed by memory-research from Yale University. Running through this acronym helps you quickly identify five high-frequency devices in any text or speech. Quiz yourself by labeling these devices in newspaper headlines or social media posts.

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