We answer the question: “What is hyperbole in the literature?”

What is hyperbole in the literature? Here's a quick tip: the organic, original users of hyperbole are fishermen. In the mouth of the “master” of fishing stories, caught roach becomes a bream, a miserable perch becomes a fish-athlete, and pike ... it’s hard to even describe. You probably guessed what I wanted to say: hyperbole is an exaggeration. By the way, this is, so to speak, the primary, primitive area of ​​its application. For example, from the legends of the ancient Indians, we learn that “elder brother” is dominant over each type of animal. Similar ideas are contained in African folklore. Is it only in them? Recall Russian folk tales. About the giant Prophet Raven, the eldest, “crowned” king of all ravens, or about the Bee Uterus, the progenitor of all bees.

II stage. From the Renaissance to the 18th century

In their own way they answered the question "What is hyperbole in the literature?" Renaissance writers. Of course, this popular technique from fiction does not always bear comic connotations, as, for example, in the well-known satire novel on Catholic manners before the reformation in the 16th and 17th centuries of the writer Francois Rabelais “Gargantua and Pagrantuel”. The hero of this book, Gargantua, the cannonballs flying into it seem like only annoying flies.

Pagrantuel, for his best intentions, covers his whole army with his tongue from the pouring rain, and in childhood this “baby” is fixed for safety to the cradle with chains that, like barriers, blocked port harbors in old times. They seemed to understand what hyperbole was in literature until the end of the 18th century. But the emphasis has shifted markedly: from exposing satire to good-natured humor. The “most truthful" man on earth, Baron Munchausen, easily with a hunting knife “blows” the head of a lion attacking him, and then with an enviable dexterity inserts it into the mouth of a crocodile. The unique accuracy allows the baron to replenish the edible reserves of his castle. Shooting the tail of the guide pig, who leads the blind boar with his help, the baron, holding on to the shot end of the tail, leads the invisible beast directly to the kitchen.

III stage. The formation of the concept. The XIX century is our time. Hyperbole Definition

In the future, the emphasis on the application of this artistic device has changed. Since the 19th century, hyperbole has been used in a practically modern sphere of use. Her definition has now changed, because while remaining a deliberate and explicit exaggeration, she pursues other goals than before. Her mission now is the emphasis on artistic expressiveness or the ultimate aggravation of judgment. Of course - the exact hyperbole now significantly enhances the impact of the work on the reader. She is the author’s unconditional artistic success. The search for bright hyperbole turns into a creative process. Let us recall the Lermontov lines from Borodin - about the "mountain of bloody bodies" that prevents the cores from flying through. Thus, only selectively detailing on the anonymous characters of the warriors, but mainly by generalizing the readers with a hyperbolic battle landscape, the poet achieves a figurative representation of globality, bloodshed, crazy concentration and intensity of the battle. The swiftness of combat maneuvers by the poet is expressed by the following hyperbole: “banners were worn like shadows. As you can see, Lermontov’s creative concentration works real miracles. What is written here? The swiftness of the regiments thrown into the meat grinder, or a comparison of the disparate: banners and shadows, that is, the sending of entire units to the world of shadows, i.e. into oblivion? What is this Metaphor? Hyperbola? Rather, both. The given example should not leave the impression that the destiny of hyperbole is battle scenes.

Indeed, for the first time in the most detailed way they answered the question “What is hyperbole in the literature?” classics of the 19th century. It is the tuning fork that emphasizes the grandeur and beauty of landscape lyrics. The recognized master of hyperbolas is the great Russian writer Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol. His description of the "wonderful Dnieper" in the story "Terrible Revenge" is truly unique. And how organically it uses the hyperbole that “not every bird” is given to reach the middle of a mighty river! But Gogol even more often uses hyperbolas and “laughs for the sake of", generously giving them a well-defined, figurative characteristic: “bloomers” are comparable in width to the Black Sea, or a mouth open from surprise to such an extent that resembles the “Arch of the General Staff Building”.

The master of the application of this trail (artistic figure) is the Danish storyteller Andersen. His "Little Mermaid" is a solid bright hyperbole and allegory.

The practice of using hyperbole in the literature has become thinner. On the one hand, as we see, it can idealize, on the other hand, it contains destructive irony.

Magnificent Mayakovsky hyperbole. The sunset, blazing "in 140 Suns", is amazing.

With similar accuracy, hyperbolas are also used by modern, living and already gone, sometimes very different in style authors: Victor Pelevin, Boris Akunin, the Strugatsky brothers, Valentin Pikul, Weller Mikhail Iosifovich.

conclusions

As you know, we are talking about a rather subtle artistic instrument of real masters. And you need to apply it skillfully. Otherwise, people will “laugh” at the hapless writer. What should be remembered for the organic use of hyperbole in fiction? They should not disrupt the natural dynamics of the plot. They are not allowed to disrupt the result of the actions taken by the characters. It is also not recommended that they excessively distort portrait details. However, the above does not apply to science fiction works, where a priori, the author removes such restrictions.