Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the question that follows. My kinsman and I were returning to Calcutta from our Puja trip when we encountered an unusual man on the train. At first, judging from his dress and bearing, we mistook him for an up-country boorish man. But as soon as he began to speak, our impression changed. He discoursed on every subject with such confidence that one might think the ’Disposer of All Things’ sought his counsel in every decision. Until then, we had been perfectly content, unaware of hidden forces shaping the world—that the Russians were advancing, that the English were pursuing secret policies, and that confusion among native chiefs had reached its peak. Our new acquaintance, however, hinted at such matters with a sly smile, remarking:
”There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are reported in your newspapers.” Having never before travelled beyond our homes, we were struck dumb with wonder at his manner. No matter how trivial the topic, he could quote science, comment on the Vedas, or recite quatrains from Persian poets. Since we possessed no real knowledge of science, the Vedas, or Persian literature, our admiration for him only grew. My kinsman, a theosophist, became convinced that our fellow passenger was inspired by some strange magnetism, occult power, or astral body. He listened with devotional rapture even to the most common place remarks and secretly noted down his words. I suspect our extraordinary companion noticed this and was quietly pleased. When the train reached the junction, we gathered in the waiting room to await our connection. It was 10 p.m., and as the train was expected to be delayed owing to some fault in the lines, I spread my bed on the table and prepared to sleep. But just then, the extraordinary man began spinning a tale, and of course, I could not close my eyes all night. (307 words)
[Extracted with edits from Rabindranath Tagore’s ”The Hungry Stones”]
Which literary device is most evident in the narrator’s line: ”one might think the Disposer of All Things sought his counsel in every decision”?
Correct Answer :
Hyperbole
Solution :
The correct answer is Hyperbole.
Explanation:
In the line "one might think the 'Disposer of All Things' sought his counsel in every decision," the narrator is describing how excessively confident the fellow passenger was when speaking on various subjects.
Hyperbole is a literary device that uses intentional exaggeration or overstatement for emphasis or effect. Saying that God ("the Disposer of All Things") asks a human being for advice before making every decision is an obvious, exaggerated overstatement meant to highlight the passenger's supreme self-importance and extreme confidence.
Why other options are incorrect:
• Irony: While there is a subtle satirical tone in the description, the primary and most evident device used in this specific line is extreme exaggeration (hyperbole).
• Euphemism: A euphemism is a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt. There is no replacement of harsh words here.
• Allegory: An allegory is a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one. A single exaggerated line does not constitute an allegory.
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