| There are at least sixty different types of rhetorical | | | | is called Understatement. |
| devices in English literature. The English language is an | | | | This method draws the reader in by providing a |
| odd mixture of truth and symbolism and most often | | | | statement that does not seem to fully appreciate |
| exhibits this propensity in the form of various figures | | | | the impact of event or situation. |
| of speech. Of all the types of symbolic or rhetorical | | | | Situation: The temperature outside is 10 below zero. |
| devices used, hyperbole is the most common. The | | | | Hyperbole: It is so cold outside your words freeze. |
| use of hyperbole may remind you of William Shatner | | | | No one can hear you until the spring thaw.. |
| and his propensity to overact. | | | | Understatement: It might get a little cool today. |
| Worsley Online School asked visitors to come up with | | | | Situation: A chef prepares a wonderful dinner. |
| examples of hyperbole. Here are a few of the best | | | | Hyperbole: The food was so good it got time off for |
| examples from school-aged children. (Source: | | | | behavior. |
| "My sister uses so much makeup when she smiles | | | | Understatement: The food was tolerable. |
| her cheeks fall off." Ed | | | | Situation: Viewing a NASCAR race. |
| "My Teacher's so old she's mentioned in the Old | | | | Hyperbole: The car was so fast I heard a sonic |
| Testament." Kaysie | | | | boom. |
| "My dog is so ugly the fire hydrants disguise | | | | Understatement: The cars drove at a fair clip. |
| themselves!" Cara | | | | Authors use hyperbole and understatement in both |
| "My city is so isolated it takes three days just to get | | | | fiction and non-fiction writing, however it is safe to |
| to the grocery store!" Ashley | | | | say that the use of hyperbole is much more widely |
| "Your sister is so dumb, she walked by the YMCA | | | | used. Hyperbole is often used excessively and may |
| and thought they spelled MACY'S wrong" Alicia | | | | not be as clever for the reader as we imagined when |
| "My history teacher's so old, he lived through | | | | we devised the hyperbolic line. |
| everything we've learned about ancient Greece" | | | | As with almost everything in life the use of |
| Ryan | | | | hyperbole and understatement are best used in |
| "Saskatchewan is so flat, you can see your dog run | | | | moderation. The use of hyperbole may help define a |
| away for 4 days!" Jenna | | | | character in a storyline but there is a significant |
| "It was so cold, even the polar bears were wearing | | | | amount of hyperbole that has been relegated to |
| jackets." Elizabeth | | | | colloquialism and often becomes clich to the reader. |
| The opposite demonstration of this rhetorical device | | | | |