Hyperbole & Emotive Language

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Hyperbole

A hyperbole is an exaggerated statement, not meant to be taken literally, but used to create a dramatic effect.

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.

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.

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.

Emotive Language

Emotive language is when language is used to create a strong emotional response – this could be any emotion, such as anger, excitement, happiness, sadness, etc.

Plastic waste murders

Plastic waste murders millions of helpless turtles every year.
- In this phrase, the vocabulary has been carefully selected to emphasise the helplessness and innocence of the turtles.
- We could have just said ‘turtles die because of plastic waste’, but by using emotive words like ‘murder’, you draw the reader’s attention immediately.
- Combined with another emotive word like ‘helpless’, and you evoke feelings of sympathy in your audience.

Evil abuser

An evil monster abused the young victim.
- In this phrase, the vocabulary has been carefully selected to emphasise the helplessness and innocence of the abused child.
- We could have just said ‘child hurt by adult’, but by using emotive words like ‘evil’ and ‘monster’, you draw the reader’s attention immediately.
- Combined with another emotive phrase like ‘young victim’, you evoke feelings of sympathy as the horrid nature of the adult is contrasted with the innocence and of the child.

Poor starving children

These children are poor, starving and orphaned. They have nothing and no one.
- In this phrase, the vocabulary has been carefully selected to emphasise the helplessness of the children.
- We could have just said ‘children have no parents or food’, but by using emotive words like ‘starving’ and ‘orphaned’, you draw the reader’s attention immediately.
- Combined with another emotive phrase like ‘nothing and no one’, you evoke feelings of sympathy as the vulnerability of the children is emphasised.

1Key Terms

1.1Key Terms

1.1.1Key Terms - Nouns, Verbs & Sentences

1.1.2Key Terms - Sentence and Clause Types

1.1.3Key Terms - Words, Sounds & Language

1.1.4Key Terms - Types of Language

1.1.5Key Terms - Images, Symbols & Mood

1.1.6Key Terms - Mood & Feelings

1.1.7Key Terms - Other Techniques

1.1.8End of Topic Test - Key Terms

2Language Devices

2.1Language Devices

2.1.1Metaphors

2.1.2Similes

2.1.3Metaphors & Similes HyperLearning

2.1.4Personification

2.1.5Pathetic Fallacy

2.1.6Puns & Oxymorons

2.1.7Hyperbole & Emotive Language

2.1.8Alliteration

2.1.9Sibilance

2.1.10Onomatopoeia

2.1.11Recap: Language Devices

2.1.12End of Topic Test - Language Devices

3Writing Structure

3.1Writing Structure

3.1.1Narrators

3.1.2Paragraphs

3.1.3Tense

3.1.4Present vs Past vs Future Tense

3.1.5Foreshadowing

3.1.6Structure

3.1.7End of Topic Test - Writing Structure

4Section B: Reading & Writing

5Section C: Writing

5.1Writing Task

5.1.1Discursive Writing

5.1.2Narrative Writing

5.1.3Descriptive Writing

5.1.4End of Topic Test - Writing Task

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