AN OUTLINE ON OXYMORONS

   

 

 An oxymoron is a figure of speech, usually one or two words, in which seemingly contradictory terms appear side by side. This contradiction is also known as a paradox.

 A paradox is a statement or argument that seems to be contradictory or to go against common sense, but that is yet perhaps still true—for example, "less is more.

 An oxymoron is a literary device in which two contradictory terms are used together in the same sentence or phrase. It is often used to showcase internal conflict. An oxymoron is a self-contradicting word or group of words. 

The definition of oxymoron is a combination of contradictory or mismatched words. It's simplest to think of it as a literary device used to juxtapose contradictory words.

Used most frequently in poetry and literature, oxymorons can extract new meaning from a word or phrase.

Writers and poets have used it for centuries as a literary device to describe life's inherent conflicts and incongruities.

Oftentimes, Shakespeare uses oxymorons in Romeo and Juliet to convey these strong feelings.

In Shakespeare's line from Romeo and Juliet, "Why, then, O brawling love! O loving hate!".

 A simple example is ''burning ice. '' Clearly, ice cannot burn.

The purpose of an oxymoron ranges from enhancing descriptions and intensifying emotions to simply bringing about a lighthearted mood or tone. A paradox, on the other hand, is a rhetorical device or self-contradictory statement that could be true.

 This can help to add depth and convey a stronger message, often by underscoring the irony or complexity of a situation.

You can recognize an oxymoron by looking for phrases where two words are used together that logically should not.

 A few more common examples are: virtual reality, random order, noticeably absent, sweet agony, open secret and awfully good.

There are many oxymoron examples that you might come across in your everyday life.