exercise: HYPERBOLE

HYPERBOLE

A hyperbole is an extreme exaggeration used to make a point. It is like the opposite of “understatement.” It is from a Greek word meaning “excess.”

Hyperboles can be found in literature and oral communication. They would not be used in nonfiction works, like medical journals or research papers; but, they are perfect for fictional works, especially to add color to a character or humor to the story.

Hyperboles are comparisons, like similes and metaphors, but are extravagant and even ridiculous.

EXAMPLE :

The Importance and Function of Hyperbole

Hyperboles are used in speech and writing for effect. The embellishment that a hyperbole creates brings particular attention to that thought or idea. Hyperboles are not meant to be taken literally, but stand out and create emphasis.

Hyperboles, however, should be used sparingly in writing and in speech. The reason being the intention is to bring attention to a particular concept. If hyperboles are overused, a “boy who cried wolf” situation occurs, and the hyperbole loses effect.

This is to say, if every sentence were a hyperbole, the audience would not take the writer or speaker seriously. They would be desensitized to all of the exaggerations.

example of hyperbole :

I am so hungry I could eat a horse.
I have a million things to do.
I had to walk 15 miles to school in the snow, uphill.
I had a ton of homework.
If I can’t buy that new game, I will die.
He is as skinny as a toothpick.
This car goes faster than the speed of light.
That new car costs a bazillion dollars.
We are so poor; we don’t have two cents to rub together.
That joke is so old, the last time I heard it I was riding on a dinosaur.
They ran like greased lightning.
He's got tons of money.

And any example other :

a. Three years have passed since the death of my beloved, but not for one moment his face was missing from my memory.

A second word suggests a comparison between the actual real time is very short, by the time she felt. Despite the perceived time it's actually not a second, but can be just one or a few hours. In reality, it is not possible within three years of people thinking of only one thing constantly, until the number of seconds. The form that is used here is sinekdoke. Measurement of time expressed much less (and sometimes) than the time actually used (overall). What is important here is the impression that is displayed. With the use of this figure of speech, meaning the intensity of the language to be very strong.

b. "Quick as a flash he ran to the finish line".

Here even the comparison explicit; fast as lightning. Compared are human running speed with the speed of lightning. So the form of hyperbole here is a simile.

c. "(Soap) sa'ndulit, exorbitant profits".

Here too there is a comparison of quantity: the amount of soap slightly (perhaps in reality a handful

or a small bag) compared with a very small amount, so it can be attached to the fingertips

(Sa'ndulit). Also there is no comparison between the quantity of profits so high with the high sky. (Exorbitant was high as the sky). Here, too hyperbole presented in the form of a simile.

d. "Germs across the ocean visible, the elephant in the eyelid is not visible".

The above speech featuring 4 hyperbole, namely: bacteria (to describe the error is so small), across the sea (to indicate a long distance), elephants (to bring up errors

so big) and finally in the eyelid (to show the visibility is so close). Here, the hyperbole used to describe the size of the abstract noun dikonkritkan (error) and measure the distance. The size may be very large or very small. Third hyperbole in this last instance take the process of forming figure of speech simile and metaphor. So, when some experts put hyperbole in comparison figure of speech, equated with explicit comparison (simile) or implicit (metaphor), they have good reason.

Summary

What is a hyperbole?

Hyperboles are used throughout literature, poetry, and even in speech.

In summary, what does hyperbole mean? Hyperboles are,