3.5 Hyperbole
Part 1: What is Hyperbole?
Hyperbole is a figure of speech that uses extreme and deliberate exaggeration for emphasis or effect. It’s a strong statement that’s not intended to be taken literally.
“I’ve told you a million times to clean your room.”
- Understanding Hyperbole: This is a classic example of hyperbole. The speaker has not literally told the person a million times to clean their room. In reality, the actual number of times they’ve said it is probably far less.
- Identifying Hyperbole: The hyperbole in this statement is “a million times”. It’s an extreme exaggeration that’s not meant to be taken literally.
- Usage and Effect of Hyperbole: The speaker uses this hyperbole to emphasize their frustration at having to repeat the same instruction many times. By exaggerating the number of times they’ve given the instruction, the speaker communicates that they feel like they’re repeating themselves excessively. This exaggeration makes the listener more aware of their frustration and more likely to pay attention to their request.
Hyperbolic Statement: “I was so embarrassed, I thought I might die.”
- Understanding Hyperbole: This is clearly an exaggeration. The speaker didn’t literally think they were going to die from embarrassment. Rather, they felt extremely embarrassed.
- Usage and Effect of Hyperbole: The speaker uses hyperbole to emphasize the intensity of their embarrassment. The exaggeration serves to communicate the depth of their feeling and make it more relatable to the listener.
Hyperbolic Statement: “He’s got tons of money.”
- Understanding Hyperbole: The speaker doesn’t literally mean that the person has tons of money (i.e., money that weighs tons). They mean that the person is very wealthy.
- Usage and Effect of Hyperbole: Hyperbole is used here to stress the person’s wealth. By saying “tons of money,” the speaker is emphasizing the large amount of wealth the person has, thus creating a stronger impression of their financial status.
Hyperbolic Statement: “I have a mountain of homework.”
- Understanding Hyperbole: The speaker isn’t literally saying that they have a mountain’s worth of homework. Instead, they’re expressing that they have a lot of homework.
- Usage and Effect of Hyperbole: The speaker uses this hyperbole to emphasize the large amount of homework they have to do, which can convey feelings of stress or overwhelm. The hyperbole serves to express these feelings more dramatically and might elicit empathy or understanding from the listener.
Activity 1: Identifying and Explaining Hyperbole
Instructions: For each paragraph, identify the hyperbole and explain its usage and effect. Consider what the hyperbole is emphasizing and how it impacts the overall meaning or tone of the paragraph.
Paragraph 1:
It felt like a billion years waiting for the school bus. With every second, the sun seemed hotter and the bus stop felt like an oven. It was only morning, but already I felt like I had been baking all day.
Question 1: Identify the hyperbole in this paragraph. How does it contribute to the description of the situation?
Paragraph 2:
The pile of books I had to carry from the library was so heavy it felt like I was lugging around an elephant. With each step, my backpack seemed to grow heavier, pulling me down as though gravity had a personal vendetta against me.
Question 2: What is the hyperbole in this paragraph? What effect does it have on the reader’s understanding of the character’s struggle?
Paragraph 3:
When the Math teacher announced that we would have another pop quiz, my heart sank to my shoes. It felt like my brain was about to explode with all the formulas and equations I had to memorize.
Question 3: Where is the hyperbole used in this paragraph? How does it express the speaker’s feelings about the pop quiz?
Paragraph 4:
After studying for the PSLE exams all day, I was so tired that I could have slept for a year. My brain felt like it was stuffed with more information than the National Library.
Question 4: Identify the hyperbole in this paragraph. How does it emphasize the speaker’s feelings of exhaustion and the magnitude of their study efforts?
Paragraph 5:
Walking around the crowded streets of Orchard Road during the Great Singapore Sale is like navigating a sea of people. It feels like the whole population of Singapore decided to go shopping at the same time. The excitement in the air is so intense, it’s like a physical wave pushing against you.
Question 5: What is the hyperbole in this paragraph? How does it contribute to the depiction of the shopping experience during the Great Singapore Sale?