Literary Devices Literary Devices    

Lesson 29: Hyperbole: Concord Hymn

by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Performer: Librivox - Mark F. Smith

Directions

Study the poem for one week.

Over the week:

• Read or listen to the poem.
• Review the synopsis.
• Read about the poet.
• Complete the enrichment activities.

Synopsis

Ralph Waldo Emerson's poem, 'Concord Hymn,' alludes to the first shot fired in the Revolutionary War by an American militiaman at the British troops in Concord, Massachusetts. The first shot occurred in April, as referred to in the poem. Emerson employs hyperbole when he calls the first shot, 'The Shot Heard Round the World.' Obviously, not everyone in the world heard it. However, the Revolutionary War has had a world-wide impact, changing the trajectory of world events since that time.

Concepts

Poets often use literary devices, defined as 'rules of thumb, convention, or structure that are employed in literature and storytelling.'

The nine literary devices we'll study include:

1. Rhyming
2. Alliteration
3. Similes
4. Metaphors
5. Personification
6. Foreshadowing
7. Allusion
8. Hyperbole
9. Onomatopoeia

Hyperbole is a literary device whereby an author makes a deliberate or unintentional overstatement.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Recite Poem Information

Recite the title of the poem and the name of the poet.

Activity 2: Study the Poem Picture

Study the poem picture and describe how it relates to the poem. How does the image differ from the poem?

Activity 3: Recite the Poem

Practice reciting the poem aloud.

Activity 4: Identify Hyperbole in the Examples

Read aloud the examples below and identify the hyperboles.

• You're taking forever! (Someone may be taking a relatively long time, but not forever.)
• I had to walk fifty miles to school and it was uphill both ways.
• I can't believe you won't let me take the car, Mom. I'm never going to speak to you again!
• Stop it with the cheesy jokes. You're killing me!

Activity 5: Identify the Rhyme Scheme

Review the poem and identify the pattern of its rhyming scheme. (e.g. ABBACDCD, etc.)

Activity 6: Identify Alliteration

Review the poem and point out any instances of alliteration.

Activity 7: Map the Poem

Find the state of Massachusetts (MA) on the map of the United States.

Find the capital city of Boston and the city of Woburn (Concord is slightly to the west) on the map of Massachusetts.

Activity 8: Identify Hyperbole

Review the poem excerpt and identify the instance of hyperbole.

• Here once the embattled farmers stood - And fired the shot heard round the world.

Activity 9: Complete Book Activities   

• Click the crayon above, and complete pages 88-90 of 'Elementary Poetry 5: Literary Devices.'

References

'Hyperbole.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Concord Hymn.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.