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Rhetoric Quiz: Identify Key Rhetorical Devices

Quick, free rhetoric test. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Vita GlinskyteUpdated Aug 28, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for rhetorical devices quiz on a golden yellow background

This rhetoric quiz helps you identify and analyze rhetorical devices like ethos, pathos, logos, and more. Work through quick examples, check your answers with instant results, and build confidence for class or exams. For related practice, try our literary devices quiz, tackle a figure of speech quiz, or review with a figurative speech quiz.

Which rhetorical appeal focuses on the credibility or character of the speaker to persuade an audience?
Kairos
Logos
Pathos
Ethos
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Which rhetorical appeal primarily targets the audience's emotions to persuade?
Telos
Pathos
Logos
Ethos
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Which rhetorical appeal relies on reasoning and evidence?
Eunoia
Ethos
Logos
Mythos
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Repeating a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses is called
Anadiplosis
Anaphora
Epanalepsis
Epistrophe
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Placing contrasting ideas in parallel structures ("It was the best of times, it was the worst of times") exemplifies
Antithesis
Paradox
Chiasmus
Oxymoron
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The repetition of initial consonant sounds in nearby words is
Homoioteleuton
Consonance
Alliteration
Assonance
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Inverting the order of words or phrases in parallel structures ("Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country") is
Antimetabole
Parison
Isocolon
Chiasmus
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Deliberate use of many conjunctions in close succession is known as
Asyndeton
Hypotaxis
Parataxis
Polysyndeton
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Deliberate omission of conjunctions between coordinate phrases is called
Polysyndeton
Aposiopesis
Asyndeton
Ellipsis
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The repetition of consonant sounds, typically at the end or in the middle of words, is
Onomatopoeia
Assonance
Alliteration
Consonance
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Posing a question and then immediately answering it for the audience is called
Aporia
Erotesis
Hypophora
Procatalepsis
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A single word that modifies two or more others in different senses without creating a grammatical incongruity (not syllepsis) ("He broke my car and my heart") is
Synecdoche
Metonymy
Zeugma
Syllepsis
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Ending one clause with a word and beginning the next with the same word is called
Anadiplosis
Epizeuxis
Epanalepsis
Anaphora
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Repeating at the beginning and end of the same clause ("Nothing can come from nothing") is
Epanalepsis
Epistrophe
Symploce
Diacope
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Balancing a negative point with a positive one to mitigate impact is known as
Paralipsis
Concession
Refutation
Antanagoge
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Repeating words in reverse grammatical order and also reversing meaning ("You like it; it likes you") defines antimetabole.
True
False
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A highly strained or paradoxical misuse of a word or mixed metaphor is
Hypallage
Antanaclasis
Catachresis
Paronomasia
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Anacoluthon refers to a syntactic interruption where a sentence begins in one way and ends in another, breaking grammatical sequence.
False
True
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Antimetabole differs from chiasmus in that it repeats the exact words in reverse order rather than just the structure.
True
False
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Which device specifically names and addresses an absent person, abstract idea, or inanimate object?
Apostrophe
Apposition
Apophasis
Aporia
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Common Rhetorical Devices -

    Recognize key techniques such as ethos, pathos, and logos in sample passages to solidify your understanding of persuasive tools.

  2. Analyze Rhetorical Strategies -

    Break down diverse examples to determine how writers use rhetorical analysis questions to shape their arguments effectively.

  3. Evaluate Persuasive Impact -

    Assess the effectiveness of specific rhetorical choices in influencing an audience and strengthening a message's appeal.

  4. Apply Rhetorical Devices -

    Incorporate techniques from a rhetorical devices worksheet into your own writing to enhance clarity and persuasion.

  5. Differentiate Between Techniques -

    Distinguish subtle differences among devices like analogy, rhetorical questions, and repetition for precise analysis.

  6. Strengthen Rhetorical Skills -

    Use questions for rhetorical analysis to refine your critical thinking and boost your persuasive writing power.

Cheat Sheet

  1. The Three Rhetorical Appeals: Ethos, Pathos, Logos -

    Ethos establishes credibility, pathos taps into emotion, and logos uses logical reasoning - Aristotle's foundational triad often tested in a rhetorical devices quiz. Use the mnemonic "EPL: Every Persuader's Logic" to recall each appeal on a quick rhetoric quick check. Research from Oxford University's literature department confirms these appeals as essential for persuasive analysis.

  2. Rhetorical Questions and Hypophora -

    Rhetorical questions engage readers by posing queries without expecting answers, while hypophora immediately supplies the response, guiding the audience's thought. Spotting these in questions for rhetorical analysis can reveal an author's strategic persuasion. The Purdue OWL highlights hypophora as a powerful technique to maintain reader interest.

  3. Anaphora vs. Epistrophe -

    Anaphora and epistrophe rely on repetition at the beginning and end of successive clauses, respectively, to create rhythm and emphasis. A simple mnemonic is "Ana- leads At start, Epi- points End," making it easy to identify on any rhetorical devices worksheet. Literary scholars at the University of Chicago emphasize how these schemes reinforce key themes.

  4. Parallelism for Clarity and Flow -

    Parallelism balances sentence elements to improve clarity and flow, as in Julius Caesar's "I came, I saw, I conquered." Practice spotting parallel structures in rhetorical analysis questions to sharpen your sense of balance in writing. The Harvard Writing Center notes that parallelism boosts readability and persuasive force.

  5. Chiasmus: The Mirror Effect -

    Chiasmus flips the order of words or phrases in an ABBA pattern - think "Never let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You." Recognizing chiasmus on a rhetorical devices quiz can set you apart, as it adds wit and symmetry to arguments. According to Cambridge University Press, chiasmus enhances memorability by creating a mirror effect.

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