The Use of Figurative Language in Refugee

What type of figurative language is used in the following sentence from the novel, Refugee?

"The illness she'd felt as the storm began had gotten worse in the night, and now she had a fever hotter than the rising sun."

Answer:

Hyperbole

In the sentence from the novel "Refugee," the author uses the figurative language of hyperbole. Hyperbole is a literary device in which the writer exaggerates to emphasize a point or create a dramatic effect. In this case, the character's fever being described as "hotter than the rising sun" is an exaggerated statement to convey the extreme intensity and discomfort of the fever. By comparing the fever to the rising sun, the author paints a vivid image of the severity of the illness.

Embracing hyperbole in writing allows authors to evoke strong emotions in readers and create memorable, impactful scenes. It adds depth and color to the narrative, making the story more engaging and immersive for the audience. In the context of the novel, this hyperbolic language helps to emphasize the urgency and seriousness of the character's condition, generating empathy and concern from the readers.