Authors have used oxymora throughout the history of literature for many reasons. At times an oxymoron may call attention to the dual nature of an object or concept—something, for example, can be both sweet and sorrowful at the same time (Shakespeare famously wrote that “parting is such swee...
Use oxymorons in your writing when you want tocreate a dramatic effect for the reader, especially in poetry. An example of an oxymoron is found in these sentences: Writers have alove-haterelationship with writing. Saying goodbye isbittersweet. Well, aren’t youawfully good? 18. Paradox A p...
An oxymoron is a popular literary device where seemingly contradictory words are connected. (Fun fact: the word “oxymoron” is itself oxymoronic — it comes from two ancient Greek words meaning “sharp and stupid.”) Example of Oxymoron One of the best (and famous)oxymoron examplesis Simon a...
Oxymoron Oxymoron refers to a self-contradicting phrase. A common one we tend not to think about is“pretty ugly”—as in, “I received a pretty ugly mark on my English test”. Another rather common oxymoron is“tough love”. Literary uses of oxymoron are a little more deliberate and thou...
Thus, an oxymoron might be a configuration of words that expresses a paradox, but the oxymoron is not, itself, the paradox. An example might help: the oxymoron "sweet sorrow" speaks to the paradox that love and pain can go together, but the oxymoron is not, in and of itself, the ...
Related terms:oxymoron, juxtaposition Exercise:Try writing your own paradox. First, think of two opposing ideas that can be juxtaposed against each other. Then, create a situation where these contradictions coexist with each other. What can you gather from this unique perspective?
and to emphasize the contrast between two seemingly opposite concepts. An oxymoron can also be used to convey a deeper meaning or message, and to challenge the reader’s assumptions about the world. Examples of oxymoron: “Jumbo shrimp” “Living dead” “Deafening silence” “Open secret” “...
Examples of oxymoron: “Jumbo shrimp” “Living dead” “Deafening silence” “Open secret” “Act naturally” Paradox A paradox involves a statement or situation that contradicts itself or seems to go against common sense. It is often used to create an element of surprise or confusion in a ...
Take note of something that sticks out to you, like an intriguing oxymoron or formatting that’s not quite the norm. It could be a device the author used to communicate their work’s theme. Mark Z. Danielewski’s House of Leaves is well known for its unique formatting, and this ...
Related terms:oxymoron, juxtaposition Exercise:Try writing your own paradox. First, think of two opposing ideas that can be juxtaposed against each other. Then, create a situation where these contradictions coexist with each other. What can you gather from this unique perspective?