Exaggeration (Hyperbole)

Exaggeration (or 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.

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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