…mistake. Metaphor & Simile Comparing two unrelated things for effect “Time is a thief.” Hyperbole & Understatement Exaggeration or minimization to emphasize “I’ve been waiting forever” vs. “I’ve waited a…
140 search results for "hyperbole"
Invective
…present, invective often employs figurative language – metaphors, similes, hyperbole – to heighten the emotional impact and make the attack more vivid and memorable. These are not used for beauty;…
Meiosis
…as the opposite of hyperbole, which exaggerates. With meiosis, you’re actively reducing the impact of words. Essentially, meiosis is purposeful understatement. It isn’t simply failing to notice the importance of…
Catachresis
…it doesn’t literally fit, creating a novel and often impactful meaning. Think of it as a kind of hyperbole focused on word choice rather than degree. It’s a bold move,…
Euphemism
…“as.” “He’s as brave as a lion.” Hyperbole An exaggeration used for emphasis or effect. “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.” Euphemism A mild or indirect word or…
Slang
…similes, and hyperbole. This can make it creative and expressive. Take the term “spill the tea,” which means to share gossip. The “tea” is a metaphor for information. The Origins…
Satire
…the audience knows something the characters do not. Satire often relies on these forms of irony to subtly convey criticism. Exaggeration (Hyperbole) Taking something and blowing it completely out of…
Humor
…a bother.” Overstatement (Hyperbole) exaggerates for effect. “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.” These techniques rely on the contrast between what is said and what is actually meant….
Comedy
…had a bit of a shake” is an understatement. This creates humor by downplaying the severity of the situation. Exaggeration (Hyperbole) This involves representing something as much greater or more…
Irony
…mock or convey contempt. Understatement, where something is presented as less significant than it is, can be a form of irony. Overstatement (hyperbole), while not always ironic, can create an…
A Red, Red Rose
…the speaker’s promise. Hyperbole: Exaggeration is used to powerfully convey the immeasurable depth and eternal quality of the speaker’s love. “And I will love thee still, my dear. Till all…
Invictus
…the simile “Black as the pit from pole to pole,” which uses hyperbole to convey an immense, all-encompassing bleakness, suggesting a suffering that extends boundlessly. Yet, even within this profound…
To His Coy Mistress
…and cherished before it disappears. Hyperbole: The speaker exaggerates with lines like “We may not know the true measure” to highlight the fleeting nature of time. Simile: The poem uses…
My Kingdom for a Horse
…Devices and Techniques Shakespeare masterfully employs several literary devices to create a memorable and impactful line: Hyperbole: The exchange of a kingdom for a horse is a clear exaggeration. This…
A Penny for Your Thoughts
…is for health.” The comparison emphasizes the vital need for understanding and communication during a difficult moment. Hyperbole: “She is quiet for ages; a penny for your thoughts?” The exaggeration…
Bane of Your Life
…qualities; he believes she actively ruins his existence. The hyperbole emphasizes his intense dislike and illustrates how he projects all his frustrations onto this individual. Example #2: The Bane of…
The Sugar Plum Tree
…once all agog, Hyperbole: Exaggeration is used to emphasize the extraordinary nature of the Sugar Plum Tree and its fruit. The tree is “so tall that no person could climb,”…
Sonnet 9
…toward others in that bosom sits That on himself such murd’rous shame commits. The term “murd’rous” is a hyperbole that emphasizes the destructive consequences of selfishness, framing it as a…
Sonnet 98
…vivid mental pictures. Visual imagery: “proud-pied April,” “lily’s white,” “deep vermilion in the rose.” Olfactory imagery: “sweet smell / Of different flowers in odour.” Auditory imagery: “lays of birds.” Hyperbole:…
Sonnet 19
…to a sculptor or artist who “carves” lines and “draws” wrinkles on the brow. Beauty is implicitly a “pattern” or standard. Hyperbole: The speaker uses exaggeration to emphasize Time’s destructive…