What narrative technique involves the use of language to convey exaggerated statements for emphasis?

Study for the NES English Language Arts Secondary Endorsement Exam. Prepare with flashcards and multiple choice questions. Each question has hints and explanations to help you get ready for your exam!

The technique that uses exaggerated statements for emphasis is hyperbole. This literary device is often employed to create a strong impression or to emphasize a particular point, often in a humorous or dramatic way. For instance, saying "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse" is a clear example of hyperbole, as it exaggerates the speaker's hunger to an absurd level to make a point. This exaggeration engages readers and can evoke strong responses, making the language more vivid and impactful.

Understanding hyperbole is crucial in analyzing various forms of writing, as it can reveal a lot about a character's state of mind, the tone of the piece, or the larger themes at play. Other options like allusion refer to indirect references to other texts or events, personification assigns human characteristics to non-human entities, and apostrophe addresses someone absent or an abstract idea, all of which serve different purposes in narrative technique but do not convey exaggeration like hyperbole does.

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