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Understanding Hyperbole in Literature

Hyperbole is a figure of speech that involves exaggerated statements for emphasis, often used in everyday language and literature. It creates a humorous effect through overstatement, distinguishing it from simile and metaphor. In literature, hyperbole intensifies emotions and contrasts ordinary descriptions, capturing the reader's attention.

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9 views2 pages

Understanding Hyperbole in Literature

Hyperbole is a figure of speech that involves exaggerated statements for emphasis, often used in everyday language and literature. It creates a humorous effect through overstatement, distinguishing it from simile and metaphor. In literature, hyperbole intensifies emotions and contrasts ordinary descriptions, capturing the reader's attention.

Uploaded by

sylvester nduhiu
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© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Hyperbole

Hyperbole Definition
Hyperbole, derived from a Greek word meaning “over-casting” is a figure of speech, which involves an
exaggeration of ideas for the sake of emphasis.
It is a device that we employ in our day-to-day speech. For instance, when you meet a friend after a
long time, you say, “Ages have passed since I last saw you”. You may not have met him for three or
four hours or a day, but the use of the word “ages” exaggerates this statement to add emphasis to your
wait. Therefore, a hyperbole is an unreal exaggeration to emphasize the real situation. Some other
common Hyperbole examples are given below.

Common Examples of Hyperbole


 My grandmother is as old as the hills.
 Your suitcase weighs a ton!
 She is as heavy as an elephant!
 I am dying of shame.
 I am trying to solve a million issues these days.
It is important not to confuse hyperbole with simile and metaphor. It does make a comparison but
unlike simile and metaphor, hyperbole has a humorous effect created by an overstatement.
Let us see some examples from Classical English literature in which hyperbole was used successfully.

Example #3
From W.H Auden’s poem “As I Walked One Evening”,
I’ll love you, dear, I’ll love you
Till China and Africa meet,
And the river jumps over the mountain
And the salmon sing in the street,
I’ll love you till the ocean
Is folded and hung up to dry

The use of hyperbole can be noticed in the above lines. The meeting of China and Africa, the jumping
of the river over the mountain, singing of salmon in the street, and the ocean being folded and hung up
to be dried are exaggerations not possible in real life.

Function of Hyperbole
The above arguments make clear the use of hyperbole. In our daily conversation, we use hyperbole to
emphasize for an amusing effect. However, in literature it has very serious implications. By using
hyperbole, a writer or a poet makes common human feelings remarkable and intense to such an extent
that they do not remain ordinary. In literature, usage of hyperbole develops contrasts. When one thing is
described with an over-statement and the other thing is presented normally, a striking contrast is
developed. This technique is employed to catch the reader’s attention.

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