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Difficulty: EasyLiterary Devices and Figurative Language

Read the excerpt below and answer the question that follows.

"After walking across the dry plains for hours, the thirsty traveler felt he could drink the entire river dry."

Which literary device is used in the excerpt above?

  1. A
    Simile
  2. HyperboleAnswer
  3. C
    Metaphor
  4. D
    Irony

Answer

The literary device used in the excerpt is hyperbole.
Hyperbole is the deliberate use of exaggeration for emphasis or effect. Describing a person as being able to drink an entire river dry magnifies the traveler's thirst beyond physical possibility to create a striking impression.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the statement 'drink the entire river dry' in the context of the traveler's situation.
The expression describes an impossible action to emphasize extreme thirst.
Identifying whether a statement is literally plausible or intentionally exaggerated determines the figure of speech.
2
Match the technique of deliberate, dramatic exaggeration to the appropriate literary term.
Exaggeration used for emphasis is defined as hyperbole.
Linking the textual technique directly to its formal literary definition confirms the correct choice.

Key Concept

Hyperbole as a figure of speech used for emphasis through exaggeration
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Literary Devices and Figurative Language

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