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Definition of Hyperbole
Hyperbole is a figure of speech in which a writer or speaker exaggerates for the sake of emphasis. Hyperbolic statements are usually quite obvious exaggerations intended to emphasize a point... read full definition
Hyperbole is a figure of speech in which a writer or speaker exaggerates for the sake of emphasis. Hyperbolic statements are usually quite obvious exaggerations... read full definition
Hyperbole is a figure of speech in which a writer or speaker exaggerates for the sake of emphasis. Hyperbolic statements... read full definition
Hyperbole
Explanation and Analysis—Old Man Warner’s Lament:
During the lottery proceedings, Jackson focuses briefly on the character Old Man Warner, who is participating in the lottery for the 77th time. In this moment, Old Man Warner shares his thoughts on people in a nearby village thinking about giving up the lottery tradition, using hyperbolic language in the process:
“Pack of crazy fools,” he said. “Listening to the young folks, nothing’s good enough for them. Next thing you know, they'll be wanting to go back to living in caves, nobody work any more, live that way for a while […] First thing you know, we’d all be eating stewed chickweed and acorns. There’s always been a lottery,” he added petulantly.
Here Old Man Warner hyperbolically describes the young people who want to get rid of the lottery wanting to “go back to living in caves” and not wanting to work anymore. He does not literally believe they want these things, but uses exaggerated language in order to make the point that getting rid of the lottery is a bad idea.
The most significant hyperbole that he uses in his short speech is his claim that “there’s always been a lottery.” This line communicates one of Jackson’s central points about how long-standing traditions seem like they have “always” been around but are, in fact, just man-made creations that can be stopped as easily as they were started. In order to counter the power of harmful traditions, Jackson suggests, people have to be willing to stop conforming and take the risk of challenging the status quo.
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