What literary device is used to create exaggeration for effect?

Hyperbole is the literary device that involves the use of exaggeration for emphasis or effect. It is often used to create a strong impression or to evoke strong feelings in the reader. For example, saying “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse” emphasizes the speaker's extreme hunger in a comedic or dramatic way. This type of exaggeration is not meant to be taken literally; instead, it highlights the intensity of the emotion or situation being described.

In contrast, the other choices represent different literary devices with distinct purposes. Metaphors imply comparisons without using "like" or "as," similes make comparisons using "like" or "as," and alliteration involves the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words. Each of these devices serves a different function in language and literature, but hyperbole specifically enhances meaning through exaggeration.