Question

Which lines from Elizabeth Barrett Browning's "How Do I Love Thee?" are an example of hyperbole?

Answer 1

A.  I love thee to the depth and breadth and height/ My soul can reach

Answer 2

Answer:

A. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height / My soul can reach.

Explanation:

A hyperbole is a literary device used by writers and authors in representing or comparing things that are an exaggerated form of claims/ statements. These exaggerated comparisons are impossible to be seen or done in real life.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning in her poem "How Do I Love Thee?" is about a woman's love for someone. This love is not measures in degrees, the quantity of her expression but rather in the quality of her expression. When she writes/ says "I love thee to the depth and breadth and height/ My soul can reach" she is exaggerating the love she had for him. There is no possibility ever to see how far a person's soul can reach, nor is it possible or will ever happen. So, this is a case of a hyperbole in use.