Hyperbole Examples in Literature: A Guide for AP English Students

📚 Quick Study Guide

• exaggeration or overstatement used for emphasis or effect.
• Often used to create humor or strong emotional responses.
• Look for statements that are clearly impossible or unrealistic.
• Context is key – what seems like hyperbole in one situation might be literal in another.
• Remember the difference between hyperbole and simile/metaphor: hyperbole is an exaggeration, while similes and metaphors are comparisons.

Practice Quiz

1. Which of the following sentences contains an example of hyperbole?
   1. A) The sun was shining brightly.
   2. B) She was as quiet as a mouse.
   3. C) I'm so hungry I could eat a horse.
   4. D) He ran faster than the wind.


2. In the sentence, "I've told you a million times!", what literary device is being used?
   1. A) Metaphor
   2. B) Simile
   3. C) Hyperbole
   4. D) Personification


3. Which of the following is the BEST example of hyperbole?
   1. A) The flower smelled sweet.
   2. B) My shoes are killing me.
   3. C) He is a shining star.
   4. D) The rain fell softly.


4. Identify the hyperbole in this excerpt: "The shot that was heard around the world."
   1. A) The shot
   2. B) Heard around the world
   3. C) The world
   4. D) The shot that


5. What effect does hyperbole typically create in literature?
   1. A) To confuse the reader
   2. B) To create a realistic portrayal
   3. C) To emphasize a point or create humor
   4. D) To be as literal as possible


6. Which sentence is an example of hyperbole used to express sadness?
   1. A) She felt a tinge of sadness.
   2. B) She cried a river of tears.
   3. C) She was slightly unhappy.
   4. D) She felt a bit blue.


7. Which statement BEST describes the purpose of hyperbole?
   1. A) To understate a situation
   2. B) To make a factual claim
   3. C) To exaggerate for emphasis or effect
   4. D) To provide a literal description