Hyperbole

Hyperbole is a type of figurative language that plays with the literal meaning or interpretation of a sentence. If a writer were to use only literal language in writing, some of the interest of and connection to the reader would be lost.

I'm so happy I could fly.

If hyperbole is an exaggeration of the literal meaning, what might this sentence literally be saying?

How does using a hyperbole make this sentence more interesting? In other words, what effect does it have?

Think of another hyperbole you might use in place of this one. What is it? How does using that hyperbole differ, in effect, from the one given?

It's raining cats and dogs.

If hyperbole is an exaggeration of the literal meaning, what might this sentence literally be saying?

How does using a hyperbole make this sentence more interesting? In other words, what effect does it have?

Think of another hyperbole you might use in place of this one. What is it? How does using that hyperbole differ, in effect, from the one given?

I am so angry I could explode.

If hyperbole is an exaggeration of the literal meaning, what might this sentence literally be saying?

How does using a hyperbole make this sentence more interesting? In other words, what effect does it have?

Think of another hyperbole you might use in place of this one. What is it? How does using that hyperbole differ, in effect, from the one given?

Simile

His eyes are as blue as the sky.

How do you know this is a simile and not another type of comparison?

It uses the word "as."

What two items are being compared?

Eyes and the sky.

What do these two items have in common?

They are the same color.

What is the effect of the comparison?

The reader is able to imagine the exact color of the subject's eyes. The writer is able to show the reader the color by making a connection to something common: the sky.

The children chattered like a tree full of birds.

How do you know this is a simile and not another type of comparison?

It uses the word "like."

What two items are being compared?

Children and birds.

What do these items have in common?
Both the birds and the children chatter.
What effect does the comparison have?

The reader is able to imagine that the children sound noisy and uncontrolled like a group of birds does.

The house stood as tall as a mountain.

How do you know this is a simile and not another type of comparison?

It uses the word "as."

What two items are being compared?

A house and a mountain.

What do these items have in common?

Both the house and the mountain are tall.

What effect does the comparison have?

Even if the reader has not seen a mountain in person, he or she has probably seen pitctures of mountains or knows generally that they are very tall. By saying the house is as tall as a mountain, the reader is able to imagine just how tall the house is.