An oxymoron is a term for a figure of speech. It is made up of two or more words that seem to be opposite to each other, or actually are opposite. For example, the words “Wise fool”, “Warm freezer”, “Legal murder”, “Anarcho-capitalism” all have two words.
What is an example of oxymoron in literature?
In perhaps the most well-known oxymoron in literature, Juliet describes her feelings about Romeo leaving her presence as “sweet sorrow.” Shakespeare’s use of oxymoron indicates that Juliet’s “sorrow” and sadness at the thought that Romeo must part from her is also “sweet” and pleasant.
What is litotes understatement?
Litotes is a figure of speech and a form of understatement in which a sentiment is expressed ironically by negating its contrary. For example, saying “It’s not the best weather today” during a hurricane would be an example of litotes, implying through ironic understatement that the weather is, in fact, horrible.
Does an oxymoron have to be two words?
Although both a paradox and an oxymoron involve contradictions, they have an important difference. A paradox is a rhetorical device or a self-contradictory statement that can actually be true. While an oxymoron is a figure of speech that pairs two opposing words.
What is an example of oxymoron in a sentence?
The word “oxymoron” is itself oxymoronic, which is to say contradictory. The word is derived from two ancient Greek words oxys, which means “sharp,” and moronos, which means “dull” or “stupid.”. Take this sentence, for example: “This was a minor crisis and the only choice was to drop the product line.”.
What does oxymoron mean examples?
The definition of an oxymoron is a combination of contradictory words. An example of oxymoron is “definite maybe.”.
What is an example of an oxymoron sentence?
Oxymoron Examples in Sentences My brother’s cooking is amazingly awful. I let out a silent scream when the teacher called on me to answer the one question that I didn’t know. The scholarship instructions state that I should submit an original copy of my essay. I asked Steve to go to the dance with me. A small crowd seems to be gathering in the school gym.
An oxymoron is a word or group of words that is self-contradicting, as in bittersweet or plastic glass. Oxymorons are often used in literature. One famous example abounding with oxymorons is the following speech by Romeo from William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet: Why, then, O brawling love!
