Hyperbole, what is it?

Charnock · #1 09-28-2008, 09:50 PM

What is hyperbole?

Is it a bad thing?

JaneEyre · #2 09-28-2008, 09:57 PM

It can be a good thing when it's meant for entertainment. It can be a bad thing when it's meant for harm.

Here's the free dictionary definition:

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/hyperbole

Some funny examples:

http://www.worsleyschool.net/sociala...yperbole2.html

Ev. Duane Williams · #3 09-28-2008, 10:09 PM

"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God." "Blind guides, who strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel."

These are two examples where Jesus used hyperbole to get His point across. Hyperbole is the rhetorical tool of exaggerating something for effect. I personally love it and admit I probably use it too often in debate.

TK Burk · #4 09-28-2008, 10:23 PM

Hyperbole is the BIGGEST problem in the world!!

JaneEyre · #5 09-28-2008, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TK Burk

Hyperbole is the BIGGEST problem in the world!!

I love it! (Not meant as hyperbole.)

Praxeas · #6 09-28-2008, 11:34 PM

A hyperbole is an extreme to teach a profound truth...for example Jesus said you have to hate your parents...he meant though that your love for family must pale in comparison to your love for GOd

jaxfam6 · #7 09-28-2008, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ev. Duane Williams

"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God." "Blind guides, who strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel."

These are two examples where Jesus used hyperbole to get His point across. Hyperbole is the rhetorical tool of exaggerating something for effect. I personally love it and admit I probably use it too often in debate.

This is not extreme. This one is actually possible. The smallest gate of their cities, or it may the small gate to an inn were called the 'eye of the needle'. A camel could fit through but usually it was a long and tedious process. They had to get down on their knees and crawl through the gate but it could be done. Usually all the packs had to be removed and carried through before the camel could accomplish this.

I am trying to remember where I read this at. If I find the reference I will post it.

Ev. Duane Williams · #8 09-29-2008, 01:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaxfam6

This is not extreme. This one is actually possible. The smallest gate of their cities, or it may the small gate to an inn were called the 'eye of the needle'. A camel could fit through but usually it was a long and tedious process. They had to get down on their knees and crawl through the gate but it could be done. Usually all the packs had to be removed and carried through before the camel could accomplish this.

I am trying to remember where I read this at. If I find the reference I will post it.

This is a myth created by a Catholic priest to soothe the conscience of his wealthy tithe payers. It is a total fabrication. There is also the one where they say the camel is really just a thick rope of camel's hair. They either try to make the needle bigger, or the camel smaller. There is no need for any of this junk because Jesus Himself declared it was still possible for a rich man to be saved by saying "With God all things are possible."(The motto of my great State of Ohio, BTW)

Check out this link.

"What the rich young ruler was sad about was that Jesus said it would be impossible for him to enter the kingdom of God because of his riches.

The bystanders recognized this is what he meant, because they said, “Who then can be saved?” (Luke 18:26). And Jesus replied, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God” (Luke 18:27).

This kills the “little gate” theory, because that was not impossible. And it kills the “camel rope” theory, because that was not impossible either."

MissBrattified · #9 09-29-2008, 07:34 AM

Just a small technicality:

Hyperbole and Idiom are not the same thing. Hyperbole is the exaggeration of something for effect. An idiom is a statement that does not mean what a person would expect it to mean, based on it's word "constituents."

Examples:
Hyperbole

It's going to take a 50 years to get through this line!
I ate the whole cow.
He's 900 years old.
I told you a million times: Don't exaggerate!

Idioms (from Dave's ESL Cafe)

Let's bury the hatchet.
Why don't you call it a day?
I can't make heads or tails of your handwriting.
It's raining cats and dogs!
He really rubs me the wrong way.