Hyperbole: What It Is, History Of & Shel Silverstein Usage

A hyperbole is "a figure of speech in which exaggeration is used for emphasis or effect." For example:

• "She is running faster than the speed of light."
• "I waited in line forever."
• "That book weighed a ton."

Hyperbole is used to create emphasis and is a common literary device often used in poetry. It can also be employed as a visual technique in which a deliberate exaggeration of a particular part of an image is shown, like the embellishment of a person's facial features in a political cartoon.

 

Although there was an Athenian politician and demagogue named Hyperbolus in 4th century BCE, who was aptly known for his exaggerated statements, his name does not give us the word hyperbole, or hype, as it is abbreviated today.

 

Hyperbole derives from the Greek word hyper, meaning "over," plus bole, meaning "throw," which conveys the idea of excess or exaggeration. Hyperbolus was just appropriately named back in good ol' 4th century times.

Enjoy Shel Silverstein's excellent example of the use of hyperbole in this poem, "Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take The Garbage Out."

Why Females & Males Are So Different (Etymologically That Is)

The word female is not related to the word male, as is commonly believed. It ultimately derives from the Latin word femella, which means "a girl or young woman." Male comes from another Latin word, mas, which became masaulus and then masclus in Latin and finally masle and then male in French, from which it came into the English as male.

Have you ever wondered where about the derivative of these two standard scientific symbols for the female and the male?

• The female symbol is the representation of a hand mirror and is associated with Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of beauty; it also serves as the symbol of the planet Venus (the Roman equivalent of Aphrodite).

• The male symbol represents the shield and spear of Mars, the Roman god of war; it also serves as the symbol of the planet Mars.

For a funny clip of the differences between female and male brains, check out this video.  I especially like the "nothing box" segment.  But that's not really so guys, now is it?