5.1.6

Exaggeration (Hyperbole)

Test yourself

Exaggeration (Hyperbole)

Exaggeration (or hyperbole) is an exaggerated statement, not meant to be taken literally, but used to create a dramatic effect.

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Endless

  • She gulped as she stared at the endless piles of bills on the table.
    • ‘Endless’ is used to suggest that there are so many bills on the table that they appear to go on and on.
    • But it is impossible for the pile of bills to truly be ‘endless’ – instead, ‘endless’ is used for dramatic effect, to exaggerate the number of bills on the table and to express how upset/worried she was about the number of bills she had to pay.
  • The hyperbole exaggerates the character’s anxiety.
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Forever

  • He was taking forever to get ready.
    • In this phrase, ‘forever’ is used to suggest that the man was taking a really long time to get ready – he takes so long that he seems to take ‘forever’.
    • But it is impossible for him to actually take ‘forever’ to get ready – instead, ‘forever’ is used for dramatic effect, to exaggerate the length of time he takes and to express the speaker’s frustration at how long he is taking.
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Everything

  • We tried everything!
    • In this phrase, ‘everything’ is used to suggest that they tried every single solution ever invented to try and fix their problem.
    • But it is highly unlikely that they have actually, literally tried every single solution – instead, ‘everything’ is used for dramatic effect, to exaggerate the number of solutions they have tried and express their frustration that nothing has worked.

Jump to other topics

1Key Terms

1.1Key Terms

1.1.1Key Terms - Nouns, Verbs & Sentence Types

1.1.2Key Terms - Words, Sounds & Language

1.1.3Key Terms - Images, Symbols & Mood

1.1.4Key Terms - Other Techniques

1.1.5End of Topic Test - Key Terms

2Language Techniques

2.1Language Devices

2.1.1Metaphors

2.1.2Similes

2.1.3Metaphors & Similes HyperLearning

2.1.4Personification

2.1.5Pathetic Fallacy

2.1.6Pun

2.1.7Oxymoron

2.1.8Hyperbole

2.1.9Alliteration

2.1.10Sibilance

2.1.11Onomatopoeia

2.1.12Emotive Language

2.1.13All Language Devices

2.1.14End of Topic Test - Language Devices

2.2Writing Structure

2.2.1Narrators

2.2.2Paragraphs

2.2.3Tense

2.2.4Present vs Past vs Future

2.2.5Foreshadowing

2.2.6Structure

2.2.7End of Topic Test - Writing Structure

3Paper 1: Reading

3.1Structuring Your Answer - Section A

3.1.1Overview - Section A

3.1.2Answering Question 1

3.1.3Answering Question 2

3.1.4Exam-Style Questions - Paper 1: Reading

3.1.5Answering Question 3

3.1.6Answering Question 4

3.1.7End of Topic Test - Section A

3.1.8Exam-Style Questions - Paper 1: Reading

4Paper 1: Writing

4.1Structuring Your Answer

4.1.1Overview - Section B

4.1.2Answering Section B

4.1.3Answering Section B - Checklist of Techniques

4.1.4End of Topic Test - Writing Section

4.1.5Exam-Style Questions - Paper 1: Writing

5Paper 2: Reading

5.1DAFORESTER

5.1.1Direct Address

5.1.2Alliteration

5.1.3Facts

5.1.4Opinions

5.1.5Repetition

5.1.6Exaggeration (Hyperbole)

5.1.7Statistics

5.1.8Triples (Rule of 3)

5.1.9Emotive Language

5.1.10Rhetorical Questions

5.1.11End of Topic Test - DAFORESTER

5.2Structuring Your Answer

5.2.1Overview - Section A

5.2.2Answering Question 1

5.2.3Answering Question 2

5.2.4Answering Question 3

5.2.5Exam-Style Questions - Paper 2: Reading

5.2.6Answering Question 4

5.2.7End of Topic Test - Section A

5.2.8Exam-Style Questions - Paper 2: Reading

6Paper 2: Writing

6.1Structuring Your Answer

6.1.1Overview - Section B

6.1.2Answering Section B - Punctuation & Plans

6.2Types of Writing

6.2.1Article

6.2.2Essay

6.2.3Leaflet

6.2.4Letter

6.2.5Speech

6.2.6Review

6.2.7Travel Writing

6.2.8Diaries & Journals

6.2.9End of Topic Test - Types of Writing

6.3Writing to...

6.3.1Writing to Inform

6.3.2Writing to Inform - Example

6.3.3Writing to Explain

6.3.4Writing to Explain - Example

6.3.5Writing to Persuade

6.3.6Writing to Persuade - Example

6.3.7Writing to Argue

6.3.8Writing to Argue - Example

6.3.9Writing to Persuade vs Writing to Argue

6.3.10Writing to Advise

6.3.11Writing to Advise - Example

6.3.12End of Topic Test - Writing to...

6.3.13Exam-Style Questions - Paper 2: Writing

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