What is the exact meaning of the quote of Mark Twain: "Report of my death is an exaggeration"?

Question

His death was wrongly reported in New York Post in 1897. On reading his obituary, he made the above remark. It is stated to be quite famous. I dont know what is special in it, except some sardonic humour. Language-wise, what is the exact meaning?

Answer 1

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You cannot exaggerate something as black and white as life and death. You are either dead or alive.

Answer 2

The exact quote, as people now report it, is:
"The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated".

Exaggeration or hyperbole is the opposite of meiosis, called the belittling figure; hyperbole is used to make a lot out of a little, while meiosis makes a little out of a lot.

The British and the ancient Spartans are famous for using meiosis. They call the English Channel 'the ditch', and their life-risking participation against the Germans in WWII "having a bit of a go at the Jerries".

Mark Twain is referring to the opposite of the belittling figure, or hyperbole, in newspaper accounts that had said he had died--an obvious exaggeration, an hyperbole--in which "the reports (that notion he had died) "have been greatly exaggerated"; which is self-evidently true since he was there to refute them.

Answer 3

that would be a twain-ish response.. old and buggery, ornery, sardonic,sarcastic,jagged edged .. you need to research Mark Twain,,

Answer 4

You defined it well; "sardonic humor".

Slightly lampooning the print media of the time with the obvious inaccuracy shown by his ability to make the statement.