Ask questions; get answers. Oxymoron Quotes (31 quotes) - Goodreads Yes! In Greek, oxys means sharp or keen, and moros means foolish or dull. Why friends are so important Having solid friendships is important for two main reasons. Usually, oxymorons are made up of just two words, but paradoxes are complete sentences, sometimes entire paragraphs. When used well, your reader or listener will at least smile if not laugh out loud. It's really interesting to see how this figure of speech finds its way into everyday communication. Terms|Privacy Policy|Refund Policy|Affiliate Disclosure, Oxymorons are one of the seasonings in great, And today, youll see exactly how this flavorful figurative language helps fold more flair and fun into any, Writers have used them for centuries as a, to describe lifes oddities, conflicts, incongruities, heartbreak, and craziness. This stanza, from Lord Tennysons retelling of the tale of King Arthur, usesseveral oxymorons for poetic effect and as a way to emphasize the conundrum that Lancelot, Arthurs most loyal knight and friend, finds himself in. We still keep in contact, but I dont spend too much time with them anymore. Why too much medicine is just as bad as too little. No, it's not an insult! | One of my favorite quotations comes from Gandhi: "Be the change you wish to see in the world." "Parting is such sweet sorrow." A common oxymoron is the phrase "the same difference." This figure of speech is clever in that utilizing the word real to describe something that is fake actually lends a sense of truth and authenticity to something that is, by nature, untrue and inauthentic. Physical objects have a completely different natural economy than intellectual goods. You probably tried to act natural so no one would know what you were up to. Yet, the depth and meaning of friendship certainly go beyond the simple and the common. Oxymoron: A rhetorical figure in which incongruous or contradictory terms are combined. Keep reading for some more modern examples. Not everyone realizes how powerful words can be. According to the Oxford Learner's Dictionary, oxymoron is defined as "a phrase that combines two words that seem to be the opposite of each other.". In turn, if something is acopy,then it is not original. Oxymorons can help us express our thoughts and feelings more clearly. Modern pop culture works hard to attract the attention of the targeted viewer or reader in todays flood of advertising. Deafening silence is way overdone. Here are some examples of oxymoron that may be found in everyday writing or conversation: Think you havent heard of any famous oxymorons? An oxymoron is usually just two words (sometimes one, as in bittersweet), but a paradox is an entire statement, usually a standalone sentence or even a full, What is the difference between oxymoron and paradox?, 10 Tongue Twisters to Improve Pronunciation, A Guide to Greeting Words and Phrases, With Examples. Men have long been silent and stoic about their inner lives, but theres every reason for them to open up emotionallyand their partners are helping. As you can see, there are tons of oxymorons in our lexicon. Chalk it up to the forced female autonomy that occurred during wartime, when Rosie the Riveter went to work in the factories, constructing the Allies' war machines while taking charge of the finances, the home, and the children. Continue with Recommended Cookies. parting is such sweet sorrow. In Charlotte Bront's classic Jane Eyre, St. John describes his love Rosamond as "delicious poison". The inherent setup of contradictory words works great for jokes and other witty statements. Note: All bold emphasis in the following quotations is my own. More than a few have even become commonplace expressions in modern-day English, such as these oxymoron examples: As with other literary devices like metaphor, onomatopoeia, and hyperbole, oxymorons have a few different purposes in writing, all of which are quite useful in the right situation: As a contradiction of terms, an oxymoron both stands out and also elicits critical thinking. An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines two seemingly contradictory or opposite ideas to create a certain rhetorical or poetic effect and reveal a deeper truth. One example of a paradox is the following conflicting idea. Through the phrase terrific liar, Holden is admitting that he is both a deceptive person and that hes extraordinarily great at being so. However, if there is no figurative or underlying meaning to the phrase, it shouldnt be used as a proper oxymoron. It implies the presence of the deepest connection of friendship, of lives lived as comrades from the distant past. However, oxymorons themselves are not automatically clichs. Or if you would prefer to get your master's degree, you'll be a graduate student. Oxymoron is an effective literary device. An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which contradictory words are put together in an unexpected way. As with other rhetorical devices, oxymorons are used for a variety of purposes. Oxymoron A joining of two seemingly contradictory terms. to compound the power behind certain words. Combined, the two words add a third dimension to the meaning of friendship: there is delight in the torment. Keep going to discover even more. To be loyal to King Arthur, his friend, he must betray his love Guinevere, or vice versa. Responsible Drinking? Write with Grammarly. However, she lovingly anticipates seeing him again which is a pleasant feeling. Oedipus curses his father's killer, but he is unaware that he is actually his father's killer and has cursed himself. In fact, the Simon and Garfunkel classic contains some powerful oxymorons in its lyrics: These are just a few oxymoron examples from pop culture. We became instant friends. The juicy bone is a contrast in its own phrasing, as well as a contrasting image with the coffin and the implied corpses bones inside. Throughout history friendship has been a favorite theme for many writers. True friendship is seen through the heart, not through the eyes. But pairing it with deafening gives silence a very distinct meaning, comparing it to a loud noise that draws extra attention. For example, oxymoron phrases such as marital bliss, military intelligence,andbusiness ethics,depending on how they are used as figures of speech, can be effective literary devices to indicate irony. Oxymorons Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster Overall, as a literary device, oxymoron functions as a means of getting the readers attention through the pairing of opposing or contradictory words. One oxymoron example is "deafening silence," which describes a silence that is so overpowering it almost feels deafening, or extremely loudjust as an actual sound would. Two of my best friends from high school went down different paths from me. Oxymoron Coffee: Why Two Friends Launched A Coffee Bean - Forbes Despite the similarities, however, oxymorons and paradoxes are two different types of literary devices, each with their own special usage. What is an Oxymoron? || Definition & Examples | | College of Liberal An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines contradictory words with opposing meanings, like old news, deafening silence, or organized chaos. Oxymorons may seem illogical at first, but in context they usually make sense. An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines two seemingly contradictory or opposite ideas to create a certain rhetorical or poetic effect and reveal a deeper truth. "The Sound of Silence": Song by Simon . (2021, February 16). Jack London, The Call of the Wild, All the pain he had endured was as nothing compared with the exquisite agony of this., The bookful blockhead, ignorantly read, Grammarly helps you communicate confidently Or a friend from grammar school with whom we haven't talked in decades. You don't have to make yourself into what you think others would find attractive. Talk to people, exchange contact information, and follow up with them. They can enhance writing and communication in a variety of ways, including by adding dramatic effect. In 1997, a writer and web developer named Paul Ford walked into a sushi restaurant in midtown Manhattan to meet a group of strangers. Boost your happiness and reduce your stress. In the below example, perhaps I could have said "aristocrats" or "high born", which both convey an identical meaning without being clichd. Like anything in life that is valuable to us, we must work at it and put time and effort into it. The cop-show investigators well-chosen use of eloquent, A songs amazing melody may make it a fan-favorite. To attract true friends, be a true friend to yourself and be the friend you want to have. These are all examples of Oxymoron's, but what are they, and how can your students use them in their writing?I. Paul Fussell. A defense of online intimacy. Slow and steady wins the race. Banksy, Wall and Piece. This contradiction is also known as a paradox. See in text("Friendship"). There are many great oxymorons out there, and more are discovered and invented every day. Why use phrases that don't seem to make logical sense? SAT is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination BoardTM. The scope of a paradox can go much deeper, drawing on complicated themes and philosophical concepts. Act naturally. An antithesis also uses opposing words or phrases like an oxymoron, but it plays with syntax to create emphasis on an idea. | However, a bone may seem juicy to a dog that is salivating at the thought of chewing it. We all tend to attract people into our lives whose character mirrors our own. She decides to go to Harvard Law School because she wants to win her boyfriend back. It was called Waking Dream. Why Use Oxymorons? But she is and she has a beautiful aesthetic and she has guided me. We just hope you were never an uninvited guest! Still-waking sleep, that is not what it is! But when you find these people, these kenzoku, they're like priceless gems. (One, in particular, is in. Copyright 2023 Literary Devices. And because oxymorons provoke curiosity and interest, they make great titles for books, movies, and television. All Rights Reserved. Oxymoron can also serve as a means of elevated language when used to express a sense of irony. One thing that we can control is who our friends are, and this decision can either make our lives so much richer and beautiful, or more stressful and disappointing. ., And faith unfaithful kept him falsely true., The main difference between an oxymoron and a paradox is that, . Oxymorons are often confused with paradoxesafter all, both are textbook contradictions of terms. Awfully good, bittersweet, same difference, and original copy are a few oxymoron examples. But Shakespeare isnt the only oxymoron guru. Nordquist, Richard. Beneath male armor is a world of deep feelings, needs, and desires. When you're ready to graduate from oxymorons to symbolism, enjoy these examples of symbolism in literature. Writing, grammar, and communication tips for your inbox. that juxtaposes contradictory terms. But avoid cliques like bittersweet. Attachment style may predict which romantic partners remain faithful to each other. What is an oxymoron? A grammar checker, style editor, and writing mentor in one package. Make a point of coming back to it in your editing process, taking the time to find where your writing slumps and could use a kick in the phrasing. Also, they often lead the reader to an underlying truth. The first criteria one should look for in a partner is someone who is ultimately agood friend to them. Do Women With More Premarital Partners Get Divorced Less? Oxymorons are a great way to evoke emotion, reveal a paradox, confuse the reader, or add humor to your writing. And faith unfaithful kept him falsely true. | Get the latest articles and test prep tips! As our team gathered for the staff meeting, the boss was conspicuously absent. What's the Ideal Age for Getting Married? ", Oxymorons have been used since the days of the ancient Greek poets. As shown by this list of 100 awfully good examples, oxymorons are also part of our everyday speech. Writers have used them for centuries as a literary device to describe lifes oddities, conflicts, incongruities, heartbreak, and craziness. Like other kinds of figurative language, oxymorons (or oxymora) are often found in literature. As a literary device, oxymoron has the effect of creating an impression, enhancing a concept, and even entertaining the reader. As I thought about it, there are four people in my life I consider kenzoku. . Two things that can greatly improve our lives are engaging in the here and now and seeing life as play rather than work. With good, and bad, and worse, alike prolific, Too much of one sort would be soporific;. Sometimes they're used to create a little bit of drama for the reader; sometimes they're used to make a person stop and think, whether that's to laugh or to wonder. Our goal is to help you by delivering amazing quotes to bring inspiration, personal growth, love and happiness to your everyday life. Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health! I urge you to take stock of your friendships and ask yourself if your current friends people build you up and support you, or is the friendship more one-sided? We hang out together, laugh and joke, have fun and confide in each other. - Contact Us - Privacy Policy - Terms and Conditions, Definition and Examples of Literary Terms, Little Bighorn Battlefield (national monument in Montana), CatDog (American animated television series), Big Little Lies (book by Liane Moriarty, adapted into television series for HBO), Quotes from a Devout Atheist (compilation book of Richard Dawkins quotes), Waking Dream (American documentary film), You cant have more types of fake news than real news. (Elon Musk), Im nobody! This next oxymoron example is about Queen Guinevere and Sir Lancelot's tragic love affair. Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone. This may be a story you can relate to. Catfishing, or the use of a fake online persona to lure someone into a false relationship, has grown increasingly common in recent years. I take it that a successful therapy is an oxymoron. Here are 67 examples that we think youll love. Oxymoron - Examples and Definition of Oxymoron - Literary Devices Evidence suggests intermittent fasting aids in weight loss and improves health. What are some examples of oxymorons in literature? Oxymorons present an ideal opportunity to be clever or funny. Trying to put a positive spin on the companys financial status, the CFO talked about the negative growth in last quarters revenue. Highlighting their differences accentuates their meaning and the words come across stronger. Oxymoron is a figure of speech pairing two words together that are opposing and/or contradictory. Add a great title, like an, New, old-fashioned way from Rockin Around the Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee, Your eyes whispered have we met from Enchanted by Taylor Swift, I only wanna die alive from Break Free by Ariana Grande, Now my empty cup tastes as sweet as the punch from Along Comes Mary by the Association, When its cold outside, Ive got the month of May from My Girl by the Temptations, Funny oxymorons often come from sarcastic or cynical contradictions. Friend is defined as "a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard; a person who gives assistance; patron. A great example is the movie, Legally Blonde, starring Reese Witherspoon. Oxymorons can be clearly confusing (see what we did there? One day, love and friendship met. ), so this article explains everything you need to know. From 2013 to 2015, she taught English in Japan via the JET Program. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. So its important to group our romantic partners into this conversation too. When your heart is broken, your mind wants you to remember the pain. This forced me to seek out other ways to form connections with people. First, I have the privilege of being Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. Although many struggle with being alone, it is part of the human condition. Both Jim and I were forced to put in more effort when he moved across the country to the East Coast. Definitely, Maybe: 2008 film. Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone. Psychology Today 2023 Sussex Publishers, LLC. Brief Introductions to Common Figures of Speech, Definition and Examples of Irony (Figure of Speech), Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia, M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester, B.A., English, State University of New York. The oxymoronic phrase delicious torment exemplifies the conundrum of friendship. Oxymoron phrases can be figuratively true, but not literally true. Oxymorons aren't just for classic literature. This famous quotation from Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet contains an equally famous oxymoron. Oxymoron is sometimes used to describe a word combination that strikes the listener as humorously contradictory, even if the speaker didn't intend it that way. It plays with readers' expectations to demonstrate themes or build tension. We get to share the beautiful aspects of life with people who we. PostedJuly 26, 2021 Friendship ought to be a gratuitous joy, like the joys afforded by art, or life (like aesthetic joys). Our new student and parent forum, at ExpertHub.PrepScholar.com, allow you to interact with your peers and the PrepScholar staff. That might be a bit of an exaggeration, but there are certainly more than just a few. The book and HBO hit series Big Little Lies has an oxymoron right in its title. However, if you think too hard about the meaning, you'll realize that on the surface it doesn't quite make sense. An oxymoron is a rhetorical device that uses two opposite or contradictory terms one after the other in order to project an effect. Be careful though if you want to use one. Now that weve gone over what an oxymoron is, lets take a closer look at four famous oxymoron examples in sentences to better understand how this literary device actually works. Examples of Oxymorons | YourDictionary Whether in writing or speech, using words with oxymoronic meaning can lend a sense of humor, irony, or sarcasm. The contrast between the positive attributes of the first word against the negative attributes of the second illustrates this oxymoron. As a literary device, oxymoron has the effect of creating an impression, enhancing a concept, and even entertaining the reader. Alexander Pope, An Essay on Criticism, Of melancholy merriment, to quote. The word "oxymoron" is itself oxymoronic, which is to say contradictory. You don't need to grow up in a perfect family to be emotionally happy and healthy, but your family must be "good enough.". In 2018, a documentary about undocumented immigrants in the United States came out.
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