Focus on Words

2.Very often in order to be expressive or exciting the writer or speaker exaggerates
some facts or concepts. The deliberate exaggeration of the quantitative or qualitative
aspect of the mentioned object is expressed in the hyperbole, e.g.
She has a nose that’s at least three inches too long.
When we describe our admiration or anger and say “I would gladly see this film a
hun dred times”, we use language hyper boles, which have lost their originality and are
only the signals of our roused emotions. Hyperbole is used also for a humorous effect.
It creates vivid, lasting mental pictures in readers’ minds.
Find cases of irony and hyperbole in the following sentences.
1. She was all angles and bones.
2. The problem is as clear as mud.
3. Oh, it’s the topic of the age.
4. The girls were dressed to kill.
Reading short stories
Before you read
1. Have you ever liked or disliked writers for their mastery of the language?
2. Are you able to express what you like in the piece of literature you are reading?
3. Find cases of irony and hyperbole in the text.
The Kite
Background
William Somerset Maugham [mO:m], 25 January 1874 – 16
December 1965) was an English playwright, novelist and short
story writer. He was among the most popular writers of his era.
His short stories always have a very interesting plot and show his
great life experience, love for sharp mind. His stories are also
popular because of his subtle humour.
by Somerset Maugham
Context
Herbert was an only child. They doted on him. Mrs. Sunbury
brought him up carefully. She taught him to sit up at the table and
not to put his elbow on it, and she taught him how to use his fork
and knife like a little gentleman. She taught him to stretch out his
little finger when he took his tea-cup to drink out of it and when he asked why, she said:
“Never you mind. 1 ”
In due course Herbert grew old enough to go to school. Mrs. Sunbury was anxious because
she had never let him play with other children in the street. She didn’t like the idea of Herbert
being thrown into contact with a lot of rough boys at school.
Herbert got on very well at school. He was a good worker and far from stupid, and his
reports were excellent...
1. never you mind - ϳñ¨áñ ã¿` ÇÝãáõ
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