Purpose
A writer will use an oxymoron to illuminate a conflict, to showcase a paradox, or to create a new meaning of two words through combination. In almost all cases, the insertion of an oxymoron is purposeful, and the writer is using the device to draw attention to an area of importance. The device is considered to be “artistic,” and it can be extremely effective at influencing a reader’s opinion. An oxymoron can make a statement or portray an idea without deliberately saying the idea. In other words, oxymorons “say without actually saying.”
Johnson, Lee. "What is the Role of Oxymoron in Literature."
languagehumanities.org, 28 July 2022, www.languagehumanities.org/
what-is-the-role-of-oxymoron-in-literature.htm#:~:text=Writers%20use%20oxymoron%2
0in%20literature,of%20showing%20a%20writer's%20wit. Accessed 6 Sept. 2022.
Steps for Analysis
First, you must identify an oxymoron in a passage. Then, it is critical to understand the passage as a whole because oxymorons are a short sentence at most. In almost all cases, an oxymoron is used in a passage to provide a reinforcement to the author’s main idea. Once you have established the main idea of the passage, you can analyze the oxymoron and what it means to the thesis of the writing.
Example
“The plane suffered a mechanical failure, forcing the pilot to make a crash landing, according to the Florida Highway Patrol, ABC Orlando affiliate WFTV reported.” On Friday, August 19, 2022, a Cessna 182 Skyhawk made a “crash landing” on a road in Orlando, Florida. The term “crash landing” is an oxymoron, which is used to refer to the event. In this case, the term was used to describe how the pilot made a landing but in a quite unconventional way. Furthermore, it reinforces the main idea of the passage, which is to describe a rare and impressive piece of news.
Deliso, Meredith, and Kerem Inal. "Pilot Details What Happened Before Crashing
onto Orlando Road." ABC News, ABC News Internet Venture, 20 Aug. 2022,
abcnews.go.com/US/pilot-details-happened-crashing-orlando-road/
story?id=88634562. Accessed 7 Sept. 2022.
Lincoln Ulman