Hyperbole
“My teacher wrote, ‘Hyperbole’ in the margin of my essay. I’m not sure what she meant,” said Marci.
Tom asked, “Are you referring to your one-of-a-kind, magnificent essay, which was vastly superior to that of every other student in this class?”
“That’s the hardest question anyone has ever had to answer!” exclaimed Marci. “Hmm… Maybe I do tend to make things bigger than they need to be.”
Tom smiled and said, “That is not an overstatement.”
Hyperbole
Definition and Examples
Hyperbole is an intended or unintended exaggeration used to make a point. It is not a literal statement, nor a slight exaggeration; it is an over-exaggeration. In fact, hyper is a Greek root, meaning over. Example: In sunny California, it rains only once in a million years.
Read the rule.
While hyperbole is used often in everyday speech, in literary dialogue and description, and in poems and songs, it may not be used in formal essays or reports.
Formal essays and reports depend upon objectivity and evidence. If a writer stretches some facts or makes unwarranted generalizations with hyperbole, the reader may question other facts or analysis which are presented as is, without exaggeration. Additionally, when a writer uses hyperbole, the reader may doubt whether the author is being fair and even-handed. Or the reader may assume that the writer is being manipulative.
Write the following sentences and [bracket] the hyperbole.
- That Mr. Hodgkins thinks his is the only class at this school. He gives a ton of homework.
- I’m dying to get into that university. There’s no place I’d rather be.
- That complete snob expects everyone to worship at his feet!
- I’d walk a thousand miles to see that once-in-a-lifetime lunar eclipse.
- The world champion Golden State Warriors seemed to have unlimited talent.
Re-write the following sentence, eliminating the hyperbole.
Avoid exaggeration; it only works once in a million years.
Answers
- That Mr. Hodgkins thinks his is [the only class] at this school. He gives [a ton] of homework.
- [I’m dying] to get into that university. There’s [no place] I’d rather be.
- That [complete] snob expects [everyone] [to worship] at his feet!
- I’d walk [a thousand miles] to see that [once-in-a-lifetime] lunar eclipse.
- The [world champion] Golden State Warriors seemed to have [unlimited] talent.
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Plus, get an e-comment bank of 438 prescriptive writing responses with an link to insert into Microsoft Word® for easy e-grading (works great with Google Docs),
Download the following 24 FREE Writing Style Posters to help your students learn the essay rules. Each has a funny or ironic statement (akin to “Let’s eat Grandma) to teach the memorable rule.
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