What type of literary device uses exaggeration for emphasis or effect?

The correct answer is hyperbole. Hyperbole is a literary device characterized by deliberate and often extravagant exaggeration. It is used to create a strong effect, emphasize a point, or evoke strong feelings in the reader. For example, saying "I’m so hungry I could eat a horse" is a hyperbole—it emphasizes the speaker's hunger by using an exaggerated image rather than providing a literal assessment of their appetite. This technique can add humor, intensity, or drama to the writing, making it more engaging for the audience.

In contrast, the other literary devices mentioned do not focus on exaggeration. An analogy compares two different things to highlight a similarity, alliteration involves the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words, and an oxymoron combines contradictory terms to create a new meaning. Each of these serves different purposes in literature, but hyperbole specifically uses exaggeration as its main trait, making it uniquely suited for emphasis and effect.