What is Oxymoron?

💭  According to Cambridge Dictionary, Oxymoron is when two words or phrases used together have, or seemto have, opposite meanings 

💭 Oxymorons are a favorite literary device of poets, particularly when they express complex feelings such as love and desire.

💭 It is a rhetorical term that describes words or phrases that, when placed together, create paradoxes or contradictions.

Why is it being used? 

🧠 Express complexity or paradox: Oxymorons capture the dual nature of experiences, like "bittersweet," which expresses both joy and sorrow 

🧠 Create dramatic effect or humor: The contrast in oxymorons like "organized chaos" grabs attention and can make a statement more memorable or amusing.  

🧠 Make language more vivid: By combining opposites, oxymorons like "jumbo shrimp" enhance imagery and make descriptions more striking.  

Examples

• Romeo and Juliet: William Shakespeare’s play features several oxymorons, including the line “Parting is such sweet sorrow.” 

• Persuasion: An example of an oxymoron in Jane Austen’s romance novel includes “angry pleasure,” describing Lady Russell’s contradictory feelings

• Don Juan: Lord Byron’s epic poem  includes the oxymoron “melancholy merriment,” perhaps describing the irony of war’s victory and death. 

• Charlotte Brontë: Jane, describes his deep feelings for Rosamond Oliver as “delicious poison.” He feels an overwhelming temptation to be with the woman he loves, even knowing it will ultimately steer him off course. 

List of resources: 

Written by MasterClass

https://www.masterclass.com/articles/writing-101-what-is-an-oxymoron-learn-about-the-differences-between-oxymoron-and-paradox-with-examples

Malewitz, Raymond. "What is an Oxymoron?" Oregon State Guide to English Literary Terms, 15 Jun. 2020, Oregon State University

https://liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/wlf/what-oxymoron

Barbora Zolmanová