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Hyperbole

            Hyperbole is the use of exaggeration in making something seem greater, better or larger than it might actually be. It puts emphasis on words and phrases to create a rhetorical effect on the reader. In Andrew Marvell's "To Coy his Mistress" he uses hyperbole to exaggerate and emphasize his statements to make a more effective poem. Hyperbole makes it seem almost unreal to the reader however still conveys the idea of the subject being compared or thought as something larger or greater that what it really is. Marvell first compares his love to that of a vegetable. The vegetable is supposed to represent something insignificant and small, yet at the same time growing, his love for her. He then goes on the claim that his vegetable love shall grow vaster or greater than empires. This statement is a critical point of hyperbole. He is greatly exaggerating the growth of his love to be the size of a massive empire. Believable or not this comparison gets the idea across that he is experiencing a great love. He then states his love will grow more slowly than first a hundred years. To overemphasize the years he once again uses hyperbole. He begins with one hundred years then moves to two hundred in which he still adores his love and ends with thirty thousand years to rest. Though excessive use of hyperbole can have the tendency to backfire on a writer and cause an undesired affect on the piece of work, Marvell uses it wisely and not excessively where the point is made and not overstated. Without the use of hyperbole the meaning of the poem may not take shape and would be understated. Losing the true meaning of the poem would defeat the purpose of writing it, hyperboles allows Marvell to clearly and fully write the emotions and meaning the poem is supposed to portray. .
            


Essays Related to Hyperbole

1. Sensory imagery and Figuative Language in

Scott Fitzgerald describes Nick Carraway's first visit to Gatsby's party as an extravagant, gaudy social meeting that creates feelings of liveliness and excitement in the reader by using visual imagery and hyperbole. ... The other method of description the author uses to show how extravagant and over-blown Gatsby's party is, is hyperbole. ... He does not say right out that the women are extremely rich, high class, and in style, but he uses the hyperbole that they were wearing "shawls beyond the dreams of Castile" to get the same point across. ... Another hyperbole Fitzgerald...

  • Word Count: 496
  • Approx Pages: 2

2. MLK's,

In their writings, both Swift and King use hyperbole, although in different ways. Swift's use of hyperbole is more straightforward and obvious. ... (pg. 3) Swift uses hyperbole throughout this Voyage when describing the amounts of food, that as a "giant", he consumes. ... On the other hand, the reader can get a feel for King's use of hyperbole when you actually listen to the speech. ... They both effectively utilized hyperbole, albeit in very different ways. ...

  • Word Count: 736
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

3. Jesus

Exaggeration by hyperbole is considered an acceptable literary strategy and can be found in all languages. ... Much of the Old and New Testaments are filled with used of metaphor, simile, personification, allegory, and pun and of course, hyperbole. ... A straight line, perfect example of hyperbole at its finest. ... There is example after example of this style of hyperbole in the Old Testament. ... This style of hyperbole uses lots of specific numbers to recount an event to the audience with seemingly perfect accuracy. ...

  • Word Count: 1777
  • Approx Pages: 7
  • Grade Level: High School

4. Eudora Welty

Eudora Welty uses literary devices such as concrete detail, hyperbole, figurative language and anecdotes to help capture the intensity and value of her childhood experiences of reading. ... When Welty says this, she might be using a hyperbole, but her statement definitely conveys the intensity she had towards reading. ... Welty uses a little bit of hyperbole and figurative language to exemplify her fixation on reading and how it became an overwhelming aspect in her life. ... Welty conveys her intensity and value of her experiences through devices such as concrete detail, hyperbole, anecdo...

  • Word Count: 558
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

5. Christmas

They are personification, repetition and hyperbole. ... And the last poetic device that I want to talk about is a hyperbole. ... Mainly this hyperbole is saying that all children are like the Christmas party and very exited about all the things that are going on at that time (like gifts, etc). Another hyperbole is on the line 27, "There's nothing left under the tree." ...

  • Word Count: 674
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

6. The odyssey

In lines 1-62 death imagery, hyperboles, and bloody image patterns portray the violence and chaos in Odysseus' life. ... Hyperboles are also utilized in this passage of Book XXII to Odysseus' violent and hectic lifestyle. When Odysseus shoots his arrow and pierces Antanoos in the neck, hyperboles serve as devices to detail his death. ... In this passage, hyperboles serve a sole purpose of overstressing gruesome ideas. ... In the Fitzgerald translation of The Odyssey, figurative language devices such as death imagery, hyperboles, and frantic image patterns effectively demonstrate th...

  • Word Count: 736
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

7. Themes in The Catcher in the Rye

The extensive use of hyperboles in the novel builds up Holden's complex character contributing to the success of the novel. In the text, Salinger uses hyperbole to replicate the voice of a teenager. ... This is an example of hyperbole, and helps the reader gain an understanding into Holden's personality and characteristics. ... " The use of hyperbole in this phrase, is an example of how Holden feels towards teenage problems. ... Finally the use of hyperbole, allows the reader to learn about Holden's unique personality and behaviour. ...

  • Word Count: 1201
  • Approx Pages: 5

8. Annabel Lee

Love often turns to depression after one looses a loved one. This idea is expressed in Artimus's poem "Why me?" through end rhyme and hyperbole. Poe's "Annabel Lee" also expresses the idea through end rhyme and onomatopoeia. Artimus's "Why me?" supports the controlling idea through end rhyme. "...

  • Word Count: 400
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

9. The Problem with Television and Processed Foods

This article uses situational irony, burlesque, and hyperbole to criticize television programs and processed food companies for creating an unhealthy lifestyle for youth. ... Lastly, the article overly exaggerates and criticizes the idea of a child who is the exact opposite of what parents want using hyperbole. ... This example of hyperbole exaggerates the role that t.v. should play in a young person's life and criticizes how much influence that t.v. has on youth. ... The burlesque, situational irony, and hyperbole effectively criticize television programs and processed food companie...

  • Word Count: 739
  • Approx Pages: 3

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