Overstatement (see hyperbole) is a figure of speech that involves exaggerating certain aspects of something to create a more noticeable effect or to emphasize a point. Overstatement is not meant to be taken literally, but is used to convey strong feelings or to create a strong impression. An example of overstatement is: “They stretched in never-ending line…” in “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” by William Wordsworth.
Glossary of Poetic Terms
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