Hyperbole । Figures of Speech । Rethoric and Prosody । English Language and Literature

 

Dipak Kumar Hazra 

Hyperbole । Figures of Speech । Rethoric and Prosody । English Language and Literature 

                   Hyperbole

Hyperbole is a figure by which things are represented as much greater or lesser, better, than they really are.

Example: 1. I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.

2. I slept like a rock last night.

In the first example 'my hunger' is compared to 'eating a horse' which means I am extremely hungry. In the second example 'my sleep' is compared to 'rock' which means I had a calm and deep sleep. In both the examples Hyperbole is used. Hyperbole has two aspects: (1) Overstatement (2) Understatement. When we speak more of a thing, it is an Overstatement; when we speak less of a thing, it is an Understatement. Hyperbole is used with various purposes and functions such as: (A) For giving vent to passion, (B) For imparting vividness to a description, (C) For vituperation, ridicule and humour. Hyperbole is a figure of speech based on exaggeration and it may be either for serious or comic or ironic effect.

                           MCQ

1. What is hyperbole? - (A) a figure of speech which uses exaggeration (B) a figure of speech which uses understatement (C) a type of simile (D) All of the above

2. What is the meaning of the word 'Hyperbole' - (A) Greek. Hyper-beyond; ballo-I throw (B) Indus. Hyper-beyond; ballo-I throw (C) Romanium. Hyper-beyond; ballo-I throw (D) None of the above

3. Hyperbole or Exaggeration or Overstatement is - (A) either overstated or stated colourfully with extravagant way (B) either overstated or stated discolour with extravagant way (C) either overstated or stated colourfully with same way (D) None of the above

4. A hyperbole is an obviously - (A) Expressive (B) Declarative (C) Exaggeration (D) None of the above

5. "We waited in line forever!" - is an example of (A) metaphor (B) Idiom (C) hyperbole (D) simile

6. "She jumps so high she could touch the moon!" - is an example of (A) metaphor (B) Idiom (C) hyperbole (D) simile

7. "She wept, ocean of tears." - is an example of (A) metaphor (B) Idiom (C) hyperbole (D) simile

8. "I had a ton of work." - is an example of (A) metaphor (B) Idiom (C) hyperbole (D) simile

9. The robber ran faster than lightning." - is an example of (A) metaphor (B) Idiom (C) hyperbole (D) simile

10. "I would forgive you when pigs fly." - is an example of (A) metaphor (B) personification (C) hyperbole (D) simile

11. "I am so tired, I could sleep for a year." - is an example of (A) metaphor (B) Idiom (C) hyperbole (D) simile

12. "I like cakes so much, I could ear a million of them." - is an example of (A) metaphor (B) Idiom (C) hyperbole (D) simile

13. "I was so hungry that I even ate the plate." - is an example of (A) metaphor (B) Idiom (C) hyperbole (D) simile

14. "I loved a love once, fairest among women." - is an example of (A) metaphor (B) Idiom (C) hyperbole (D) simile

15. "The boy was dying to get a new bag." - is an example of (A) metaphor (B) Idiom (C) hyperbole (D) simile

16. "The woman is as heavy as an elephant." - is an example of (A) metaphor (B) Idiom (C) hyperbole (D) simile

17. "My grandfather is as old as the hills." - is an example of (A) metaphor (B) Idiom (C) hyperbole (D) simile

18. "I saw a man as little as Lilliput." - is an example of (A) understatement (B) overstatement (C) metaphor (D) simile

19. "I saw a man as tall as power poll." - is an example of (A) understatement (B) overstatement (C) metaphor (D) simile

20. An exaggerated statement is - (A) metaphor (B) personification (C) hyperbole (D) simile

21. "I am so hungry I could eat a horse!" - is an example of (A) metaphor (B) Idiom (C) hyperbole (D) simile

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