What is an example of hyperbole?

Prepare for the Ontario Grade 9 English Exam with our comprehensive study tool. Explore multiple choice questions, detailed explanations, and hints. Enhance your skills for success!

Hyperbole is a literary device that involves exaggerated statements not meant to be taken literally, used for emphasis or effect. The phrase "I’m so hungry I could eat a horse" vividly illustrates this concept by expressing extreme hunger in a humorous and exaggerated way. The idea of actually consuming a horse is implausible, highlighting the speaker's level of hunger far beyond ordinary expression.

Other options represent different literary devices: "This bag weighs a ton" is also hyperbolic but less vivid than option A; "She is like a rose" is a simile, comparing a person to a flower; "He reached for the stars" suggests ambition or dreams but doesn't embody the exaggerated nature of hyperbole. Thus, the first option stands out as the clearest example of hyperbole.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy