2 - The characteristics of hyperbole

Summary

A preliminary definition

Let me start outlining some typical elements of hyperbole by way of an example. The following dialogue is taken from a broadcast exchange between the Beatle George Harrison and BBC journalist Alan Freeman in 1964, marked by a deadpan delivery:

1. (1) Alan: George, is it true that you are a connoisseur of the classics?

2. George: No, it's just a rumour.

3. Alan: It's just a rumour. Do you enjoy singing ‘Beethoven’?

4. George: No. I've been singing it for 28 years now, you know.

5. Alan: For how long?

6. George: 28 years.

7. Alan: That's incredible. Could you manage one more performance?

8. George: Possibly.

9. Alan: Oh, go on, say yes.

10. George: Yes.¹

George's claim to have been performing the song Roll Over, Beethoven for 28 years is an exaggerated statement in so far as the time span expressed is much longer than can be factually true and than can consequently be literally meant by him. In order to establish this, however, one needs some background knowledge, most crucially that George himself is no more than 21 years old at the time of speaking, or that the song itself originates only in the mid 1950s – both making the twenty-eight years factually impossible. Alan Freeman was, of course, aware of both these points, so the hyperbole should have been easy to identify for him; the same goes for the audience of the radio show.