Question

Why does Countee Cullen use hyperbole in the final lines of “Incident”?

1) Hyperbole builds upon the poet’s suspenseful tone.

2) Ending the poem with hyperbole shows that the speaker is able to overcome a negative experience.

3) By using hyperbole, Cullen reinforces the importance of this moment and its impact on the speaker.

4) The use of hyperbole creates powerful imagery.

Answer 1

the answer is number three

Answer 2

Answer: 3) By using hyperbole, Cullen reinforces the importance of this moment and its impact on the speaker.

The final lines of the poem "Incident" state:

I saw the whole of Baltimore

From May until December;

Of all the things that happened there

That's all that I remember.

In this stanza, the author is using hyperbole in order to highlight the impact of the event in his memory. He states that although he saw many things during those months ("all of Baltimore"), the only thing he can remember is the moment that person used a racial slur. This shows what a deep impact the event had on him.