Question

"Ten thousand saw I at a glance" is an example of:

• A. hyperbole
• B. alliteration
• C. metaphor
• D. onomatopoeia

Answer 1

Answer:

A. hyperbole

Understanding Hyperbole in Literature

• Definition: Hyperbole is a figure of speech that involves an exaggeration for emphasis or effect. It's not meant to be taken literally.
• Origin: The word 'hyperbole' comes from the Greek word 'huperbolē', meaning 'excessive'.
• Purpose: Authors use hyperbole to make a point more vividly or to create a humorous or dramatic effect.
• In the given line: "Ten thousand saw I at a glance" is an exaggeration. It's highly unlikely that the speaker could count exactly ten thousand daffodils in a single glance. The number is used to emphasize the vast quantity and beauty of the flowers.
• Examples in Literature:
  • "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse." (Exaggeration of hunger)
  • "He cried a river of tears." (Exaggeration of sadness)
  • "This bag weighs a ton." (Exaggeration of weight)
• Distinguishing from other figures of speech:
  • Metaphor: Compares two unlike things directly (e.g., 'The world is a stage').
  • Simile: Compares two unlike things using 'like' or 'as' (e.g., 'Brave as a lion').
  • Personification: Giving human qualities to inanimate objects or animals (e.g., 'The wind whispered secrets').
• Relevance for Competitive Exams: Recognizing figures of speech like hyperbole is crucial for English comprehension and literature sections in various competitive exams (e.g., UPSC, SSC, Banking exams, GRE, TOEFL). Questions often test the ability to identify these literary devices in given passages or sentences.
• Poetic Context: The line is from William Wordsworth's famous poem 'I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud', which celebrates the beauty of nature and the joy derived from it. The hyperbole here effectively conveys the overwhelming visual impact of the daffodil display.