Notes

Read the text. The figure of speech is shown in bold.
Thick swales of swamp grass rippled. Mud turtles napped in the sun. The world was so calm that Omakayas could hear herself blink. Only the sweet call of a solitary white-throated sparrow pierced the cool of the woods beyond.
From Louise Erdrich, The Birchbark House. Copyright 1999 by Louise Erdrich
What does this example of hyperbole tell you?
key idea
Figures of speech are words or phrases that use language in an unusual way. Figures of speech often show important things about a text's characters, setting, events, or tone (general sound or feeling).
Hyperbole is using very extreme or unrealistic descriptions to talk about something. These descriptions are usually not possible in real life. Hyperbole can show strong emotions or to create humor.
She flashed me a smile brighter than sunshine when I opened the door.

—Laura Bowers, Beauty Shop for Rent: . . . fully equipped, inquire within

Personification is describing nonhuman things as if they were people. Personification can make animals, objects, or ideas seem more human.
The wind was singing everywhere in the trees.

—Lucy Maud Montgomery, Pat of Silver Bush

A simile uses like or as to compare two things that are not actually alike. A simile helps readers use their senses to understand a text.
A tear on Mrs. Bump's cheek shone like a diamond in the starlight.

—C. R. Bryan, Bump's Circus

A metaphor compares two things that are not actually alike, without using like or as. A metaphor also helps readers use their senses to understand a text.
They were all there, silent, husky, and dry, with eyes of steel.

—Rudyard Kipling, The Second Jungle Book

solution
A person's blinking eyes are too quiet to be heard. The exaggeration suggests that Omakayas is in a very calm and quiet world. So, this example of hyperbole shows that Omakayas is in a very quiet place.