What is an Oxymoron?
Oxymoron is a literary device in which contradictory terms are juxtaposed. They are used poetically to give fresh meaning to a word or a phrase. Example: ”only option”, ”silent scream”
What is the Purpose of Oxymoron?
Oxymoron serves a quite useful purpose in the right situation. It is used to give:-
1. DRAMATIC EFFECT
- An oxymoron stands out & elicits critical thinking.
- The reader has to pause in order to understand the meaning.
- It makes the reader think.
- Tend to have a deeper meaning than the other words.
2. ENTERTAINMENT
- Oxymorons provide an ideal platform to be clever or funny.
- The use of contradictory words goes well for jokes & while making witty comments.
3. PRESENT WORDS
- While placing a contrasting word with another, makes each one stand out & by highlighting their differences, one accentuates their meanings.
Example: ” deafening silence ” means silence on its own is neutral or it denotes an atmosphere of calmness or tension, based on the context. But pairing deafening with silence brings a very distinct meaning.
4. ARTICULATE POEMS
- Oxymoron being a figurative language is often used in poems to elicit a deeper meaning that keeps the audience connected to the theme.
Oxymoron – Definition with Examples
Oxymoron is a figure of speech in which contradictory words are combined with opposing meanings, like “ old news ” or “ organized chaos. ”
The Oxford Learner’s Dictionary defines an oxymoron as “a phrase that combines two words that seem to be the opposite of each other.” In the Cambridge Dictionary, an oxymoron is defined as “two words or phrases used together that have, or seem to have opposite meanings.”
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