Beowulf

The narrator of Beowulf heaps heavy praise on the heroes and kings of the sixth century despite their opposition to the paganism of the society described in the poem. The poet uses hyperbole, for example, in describing the deeds and accomplishments of former Kings of the Danes, including King Hrothgar. When describing Heorot, a mead-house created by Hrothgar to honor the successes of his reign, the narrator uses hyperbolic language: 

To Hrothgar was given such glory of war,
such honor of combat, that all his kin
obeyed him gladly till great grew his band
of youthful comrades. It came in his mind
to bid his henchmen a hall uprear,
a master mead-house, mightier far
than ever was seen by the sons of earth,
and within it, then, to old and young
he would all allot that the Lord had sent him,
save only the land and the lives of his men [...]
It fell, as he ordered,
in rapid achievement that ready it stood there, 
of halls the noblest:

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The narrator uses both imagery and hyperbole to depict the frenzied scene in which Grendel attacks the mead-hall Heorot:

Angry were both
those savage hall-guards: the house resounded.
Wonder it was the wine-hall firm
in the strain of their struggle stood, to earth 
the fair house fell not; too fast it was 
within and without by its iron bands 
craftily clamped; though there crashed from sill 
many a mead-bench—men have told me—
gay with gold, where the grim foes wrestled.
So well had weened the wisest Scyldings 
that not ever at all might any man
that bone-decked, brave house break asunder, 
crush by craft,—unless clasp of fire 
in smoke engulfed it. Again uprose din redoubled.

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