Answer:
In Ralph Waldo Emerson's poem, "The Concord Hymn," he describes the beginning of the Revolutionary War with the following lines: "Here once the embattled farmers stood And fired the shot heard round the world." In these lines, Emerson uses a figure of speech known as hyperbole.
Hyperbole is a figure of speech that involves exaggeration for emphasis or dramatic effect. In this case, Emerson exaggerates the impact and significance of the shot fired by the embattled farmers at Concord. By referring to it as "the shot heard round the world," he suggests that this single act of resistance had far-reaching consequences that reverberated beyond the immediate battlefield.
Emerson's use of hyperbole serves to elevate the importance and symbolism of this event in American history. It portrays the actions of these farmers as not just a local skirmish but as a pivotal moment that would inspire and resonate with people around the world. The phrase "the shot heard round the world" has since become a well-known expression, symbolizing any event or action that has a profound and widespread impact.
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