Identify hyperbole in a text and explain how the exaggeration creates humor or emphasis.
Hyperbole is extreme exaggeration used for effect, not meant to be taken literally. "I have told you a million times" and "this backpack weighs a ton" are both hyperbole -- nobody means those numbers exactly.
Read the famous final stanza of "Casey at the Bat" by Ernest Thayer: "Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright; the band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light; and somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout; but there is no joy in Mudville -- mighty Casey has struck out." The poem builds up the mighty, unbeatable hero Casey through exaggeration the whole way through, which makes the surprising, funny letdown of him striking out land even harder.
Mastery looks like: They can identify hyperbole in a text and explain how the exaggeration creates humor or emphasis.
Common stumbles: Taking a hyperbole literally instead of recognizing it as intentional exaggeration; confusing hyperbole with an actual falsehood.
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