IB English A Lit Topic Hyperbole Revision Notes (SL/HL)

IB English A Lit Topic Hyperbole Revision Notes (SL/HL) | RevisionDojo

Written by official IB examiners

Don't Take Hyerbole Literally

Definition

Hyperbole

A figure of speech that uses deliberate and obvious exaggeration to create a strong impression or emphasize a point.

It's like cranking the volume up on a feeling or idea to make it louder in the reader’s mind.
Writers use it to create strong impressions, express emotion, or just be funny.

Hint

You probably use hyperbole all the time without realizing it.
- “I’m starving.”
- “That movie was the worst thing ever.”
- “She’s a million times smarter than me.”

Hyperbole in Literature

(Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare): “The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars.”

This is more than a compliment, it’s Romeo losing all sense of reality.
He exaggerates Juliet’s beauty so much that even the stars look dull in comparison.
This kind of hyperbole shows the intensity of young love, where emotions are overwhelming and everything feels larger than life.

Exam technique

You might see this kind of hyperbole in a poetic extract or dramatic monologue where passion distorts perception.
It’s not about realism but instead about emotional truth.

(To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee): “Two geological ages later, we heard the soles of Atticus’s shoes scrape the front steps.”

Scout doesn’t mean two whole ages have actually gone by, this is her childlike way of saying the wait felt endless to her.
The exaggeration also builds her voice as a narrator.

Exam technique

In narrative prose or coming-of-age fiction, hyperbole often reflects a character’s perspective, especially when they’re young or emotional.
The exaggeration shows you how they see the world, even if it’s not accurate.

Hyperbole in Film and TV

(Donkey’s dialogue, Shrek): “We can stay up late, swap manly stories, and in the morning, I’m making waffles!”

Donkey’s plans are wildly over-the-top for a guy he just met.
His excitement is so intense that it’s funny and that’s the point.

Nice try, unfortunately this paywall isn't as easy to bypass as you think. Want to help devleop the site? Join the team at https://revisiondojo.com/join-us. exercitation voluptate cillum ullamco excepteur sint officia do tempor Lorem irure minim Lorem elit id voluptate reprehenderit voluptate laboris in nostrud qui non Lorem nostrud laborum culpa sit occaecat reprehenderit

Definition

Paywall

(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Note

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam quis nostrud exercitation.

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit.

Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

Don't Take Hyerbole Literally

Definition

Hyperbole

A figure of speech that uses deliberate and obvious exaggeration to create a strong impression or emphasize a point.

It's like cranking the volume up on a feeling or idea to make it louder in the reader’s mind.
Writers use it to create strong impressions, express emotion, or just be funny.

Hint

You probably use hyperbole all the time without realizing it.
- “I’m starving.”
- “That movie was the worst thing ever.”
- “She’s a million times smarter than me.”

Hyperbole in Literature

(Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare): “The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars.”

This is more than a compliment, it’s Romeo losing all sense of reality.
He exaggerates Juliet’s beauty so much that even the stars look dull in comparison.
This kind of hyperbole shows the intensity of young love, where emotions are overwhelming and everything feels larger than life.

Exam technique

You might see this kind of hyperbole in a poetic extract or dramatic monologue where passion distorts perception.
It’s not about realism but instead about emotional truth.

(To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee): “Two geological ages later, we heard the soles of Atticus’s shoes scrape the front steps.”

Scout doesn’t mean two whole ages have actually gone by, this is her childlike way of saying the wait felt endless to her.
The exaggeration also builds her voice as a narrator.

Exam technique

In narrative prose or coming-of-age fiction, hyperbole often reflects a character’s perspective, especially when they’re young or emotional.
The exaggeration shows you how they see the world, even if it’s not accurate.

Hyperbole in Film and TV

(Donkey’s dialogue, Shrek): “We can stay up late, swap manly stories, and in the morning, I’m making waffles!”

Donkey’s plans are wildly over-the-top for a guy he just met.
His excitement is so intense that it’s funny and that’s the point.

Definition

Paywall

(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Note

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam quis nostrud exercitation.

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

Everything You Need to Know About Analysis5 subtopics

Paper 1 Lit4 subtopics

Paper 2 Lit4 subtopics

Individual Oral (IO)4 subtopics

Higher Level Essay (HLE)3 subtopics

IB English A Lit Hyperbole Notes

Everything You Need to Know About Analysis5 subtopics

Paper 1 Lit4 subtopics

Paper 2 Lit4 subtopics

Individual Oral (IO)4 subtopics

Higher Level Essay (HLE)3 subtopics

Don't Take Hyerbole Literally

Hyperbole in Literature

Hyperbole in Film and TV

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

Don't Take Hyerbole Literally

Hyperbole in Literature

Hyperbole in Film and TV

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account