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Literary Term Oxymoron. Lourdes Oseguera Elizabeth Figueroa Period: 2 . Definition…. Oxymoron - a figure of speech in which two contradictory words or phrases are combined to produce a rhetorical effect by means of a concise paradox.
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Literary TermOxymoron Lourdes Oseguera Elizabeth Figueroa Period: 2
Definition… • Oxymoron - a figure of speech in which two contradictory words or phrases are combined to produce a rhetorical effect by means of a concise paradox. • The term comes from the Greek oxumoros, meaning pointedly foolish which was formed by combining oxus, meaning sharp, and moros, meaning foolish.
Pronunciation • ox·y·mo·ron • [ok-si-mawr-on, -mohr-] • http://www.merriam-webster.com/cgi-bin/audio.pl?oxymor01.wav=oxymoron
1st Literary example… • An example “I like a smuggler. He is the only honest thief.” (Charles Lamb).
1st Analysis • A smuggler doesn’t pay duty to any imports or goods. • A smuggler robs the “Income” only. So a smuggler robs who are in charge of that profit. • The way it works for the author is that its two contradictory ideas such as saying “honest thief.” Honest is good but thief is bad.
2nd Literary Example • Most famous instance of sustained oxymoron is said to be Sir Thomas Wyatt's version of Petrach's 134th sonnet. • 'I find no peace, and all my war is done I fear and hope, I burn and freeze like ice, I flee above the wind, yet can I not arise; And nought I have and all the world I season.
2nd Analysis • This contradicts itself, because its all opposite from the man’s feelings, he feels both and none at the same time. • This supports the passage because it can be saying that he is not atpeace of mind even after all the battles he’s endured. • He tries his best to succeed but fails
3rd Literary example • Juliet:'Tis almost morning, I would have thee gone—And yet no farther than a wan-ton's bird,That lets it hop a little from his hand,Like a poor prisoner in his twisted gyves,And with a silken thread plucks it back again,So loving-jealous of his liberty. • Romeo:I would I were thy bird. • Juliet:Sweet, so would I,Yet I should kill thee with much cherishing.Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow,That I shall say good night till it be morrow. [Exit above] • Romeo And Juliet Act 2, scene 2, 176–185
3rd Analysis • “sweet sorrow” contradicts itself because its both sweet and sad one must say goodbye to a friend. • It also combines both pleasure and pain • Parting is sorrow for Julia because she would like to be rebellious and be with Romeo instead, and pleasure because being with Romeo and doing anything with him is pleasurable.