Author Bios
Elie WieselElie Wiesel uses hyperbole in his book Night for one specific reason. He uses hyperbole to allow people to make a stronger connection with the feelings he had during the Holocaust because, in reality, few will reach that level of feeling in their lives. Therefore, by using hyperbole Wiesel can connect with his readers, which is always good for an author.
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George OrwellGeorge Orwell uses hyperbole to make a more drastic effect on the text and make the reader understand what is going on better. Since Orwell uses animals to expresses his feelings about political issues in Animal Farm, it provides a better understanding of his thoughts about things.
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What is Hyperbole
Hyperbole is when one over exaggerates about something, but, in reality, it is a lot less than what one says it is. This type of device can be used to provide emphasis in the book, give a better feel for the character and give more information on what is occurring.
Visual Examples
Our tent leader was a German. An assassin's face, fleshy lips, hands resembling a wolf's paws. The camp's food had agreed with him; he could hardly move, he was so fat. Like the head of the camp, he liked children. Immediately after our arrival, he had bread brought for them, some soup and margarine. (In fact, this affection was not entirely altruistic there existed here a veritable traffic of children among homosexuals, I learn later.) he told us:
- Elie Wiesel
Night Page 48 Explanation 1"... he could hardly move, he was so fat." is a use of hyperbole because in reality people do not get so fat that they cannot move because through time you learn to support your own body. This use of hyperbole allows the reader to see what Elie Wiesel saw looking at the tent leader as well as allowing the readers to see what Wiesel saw. They also got to read about how different the Germans were treated then the Jews.
Example 2... There it was now, very close to us, the pit and its flames. I gathered all that remained of my strength in order to break rank and throw myself onto the barbed wire. Deep down, I was saying good-bye to my father, to the whole universe, and, against my will, I found myself whispering the words: "Yisgadal, ueyiskadash, shmey raba... May his name be exalted and sanctified..." My heart was about to burst. There. I was face-to-face with the Angel of Death...
- Elie Wiesel
Night Pages 33-44 Explanation 2"My heart was about to burst. There. I was face-to-face with the Angel of Death..." is to be considered hyperbole because in reality you heart does not just burst and you do not physical come face-to-face with the Angel of Death. Not only is this a hyperbole, but it is also a metaphor because it is comparing his feeling with the Angel of Death. This is a good use of hyperbole because not only does it give you a better visual and information, it also expresses the way Wiesel felt at the time this was occurring and he tries to make you make a connection by expressing his feeling in a hyperbole.
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"Comrades," he said quietly, "do you know who is responsible for this? Do you know the enemy who has come in the night and has overthrown our windmill? SNOWBALL!" he suddenly roared in a voice of thunder. "Snowball has done this thing! In sheer malignity, thinking to set back our plans and avenge himself for his ignominious expulsion, this traitor has crept here under cover of night and destroyed our work of nearly a year. Comrades, here and now I pronounce the death sentence upon Snowball." 'Animal Hero, Second Class,' and half a bushel of apples to any animal who brings him to justice. A full bushed to anyone who captures him alive!"
- George Orwell
Animal Farm Page 82 Explanation 1"... he suddenly roared in a voice of thunder." that is an example of hyperbole because your voice cannot really roar like thunder. Saying that he suddenly roared in a voice of thunder provides a better understanding on how this animal said something. It also allows one to know how frustrated at what occurred. Overall this provides a better understanding of the text and allows people to receive a better picture to what is going on.
Example 2 ... Certainly the animals did not want Jones back; if the holding of the debates on Sunday mornings was liable to bring him back, then the debates must stop. Boxer, who had now had time to think things over, voiced the general feeling by saying: "If comrade Napoleon says it, it must be right." And from then on he adopted the maxim, "Napoleon is always right," in addition to his private motto of "I will work harder."
- George Orwell
Animal Farm Page 70 Explanation 2"Napoleon is always right," is hyperbole because in reality one can not always be right because every one makes mistakes and nobody is perfect. This use of hyperbole provides multiple beneficial things for the passage. For example, it tells you what the animals think of Napoleon and his leadership. Along with that, it provides a better understanding on what Napoleon is like, a better understanding on what the environment is like and an understanding of the loyalty Boxer has toward Napoleon. Just like any other time one uses hyperbole, it provides exaggeration and understanding.
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I believe that Elie Wiesel uses hyperbole better because he makes more of a connection with readers then George Orwell. Not only does Wiesel connect with the reader, he also tries to make then understand what is going on and what it felt like. In addition, Wiesel provides a stronger visual picture for the reader.
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"Wrong Hands | Cartoons by John Atkinson ©2011-2013." 2011. 25 Oct. 2013
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"What's the Difference Between Analogy, Similie, Hyperbole, Metaphor, Pun, Idiom, Slang, Double Entendre?" What's the Difference between Analogy, Similie, Hyperbole, Metaphor, Pun, Idiom, Slang, Double Entendre? N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2013. <http://www.parseerror.com/pizza/doc/Figures-of-Speech-Analogy-Similie-Metaphor-Hyperbole.html>.
Orwell, George. "1." Animal Farm;. New York: Harcourt, Brace, 1954. 82. Print.
Orwell, George. "5." Animal Farm;. New York: Harcourt, Brace, 1954. 70. Print.
Wiesel, Elie, and Marion Wiesel. "4." Night. New York, NY: Hill and Wang, a Division of Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2006. 48. Print.
Wiesel, Elie, and Marion Wiesel. "3." Night. New York, NY: Hill and Wang, a Division of Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2006. 33-34. Print.
<http://wronghands1.wordpress.com/>
"What's the Difference Between Analogy, Similie, Hyperbole, Metaphor, Pun, Idiom, Slang, Double Entendre?" What's the Difference between Analogy, Similie, Hyperbole, Metaphor, Pun, Idiom, Slang, Double Entendre? N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2013. <http://www.parseerror.com/pizza/doc/Figures-of-Speech-Analogy-Similie-Metaphor-Hyperbole.html>.
Orwell, George. "1." Animal Farm;. New York: Harcourt, Brace, 1954. 82. Print.
Orwell, George. "5." Animal Farm;. New York: Harcourt, Brace, 1954. 70. Print.
Wiesel, Elie, and Marion Wiesel. "4." Night. New York, NY: Hill and Wang, a Division of Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2006. 48. Print.
Wiesel, Elie, and Marion Wiesel. "3." Night. New York, NY: Hill and Wang, a Division of Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2006. 33-34. Print.