Monday, April 18, 2011

O is for Oxymoron

With a definite maybe I agreed to participate in the A-Z Blogging Challenge. Surprisingly, I've kept up so far. I'm terribly pleased. And today marks another week and another string of alphabetic posts. I'm almost exactly where I need to be and when I make this O-post, I'll be right on track.

Did you guess what I'm writing about from the intro? There are 3 examples. Okay, the title of the post makes it painfully obvious but would you have guessed anyway? Can you find the examples?

Today's writerly word is oxymoron (plural, oxymora).

Oxymoron is a phrase in which two (or more) incongruous words are used in conjunction to highlight an apparent contradiction.  When used effectively, a well placed literary oxymoron reveals a deeper truth through it's contradiction.

Shakespeare was masterful in his use of oxymora. Examples include:
  • Romeo & Juliet: sweet sorrow 
  • A Midsummer Night's Dream: tragical mirth 
  • Julius Caesar: fearful bravery

Some oxymora are so frequently used they become part of everyday language. Examples:
  • Good grief
  • Act natural
  • Found missing
  • Small crowd
  • Pretty ugly
  • Working vacation
  • Clearly misunderstood

Yeah, I love a good oxymoron because, you know, I'm a sophisticated redneck.

PS. You may find this interesting: P is for Paradox: What is the Difference Between a Paradox and an Oxymoron?


Source: Literary Terms and Definitions 
Posted by Langley Cornwell at 9:50 AM
Labels: , , , ,

24 comments:

  1. Lyn LomasiApril 18, 2011 at 9:57 AM

    Hehe, 'sophisticated redneck'...love it! :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. AngelaApril 18, 2011 at 9:59 AM

    Like that old joke. Her momma said she was pretty. Her daddy said she was ugly. So they argued until they agreed that she was pretty ugly.

    ReplyDelete
  3. SouthpawApril 18, 2011 at 10:26 AM

    I love oxymora (I really want to say oxymorons) and you listed some great examples.

    A-Z Fellow Challenger
    Holly Ruggiero’s POV

    ReplyDelete
  4. mooderinoApril 18, 2011 at 10:26 AM

    I like charm offensive, and the old favourite, military intelligence.

    ReplyDelete
  5. SanApril 18, 2011 at 10:52 AM

    Oh good grief I love this word!

    ReplyDelete
  6. shellyApril 18, 2011 at 10:56 AM

    Okay...so if you're a sophisticated redneck, what do you do with your Christmas lights? And, where do you buy your lingerie? The Family Dollar Store, perhaps? Maybe Target. Do tell me.

    ReplyDelete
  7. UnknownApril 18, 2011 at 11:42 AM

    I forgot oxymoron when I did my 'O' post! I love it! How about "an honest politician"? LOL

    ReplyDelete
  8. A Girl and Her eBooksApril 18, 2011 at 12:23 PM

    Ah, ya gotta love the oxymoron. I have chosen you for an award. You can pick your award up here :) http://pleasewithease.blogspot.com/2011/04/stylin-and-profilin.html

    ReplyDelete
  9. Angela FullerApril 18, 2011 at 1:29 PM

    Love the post - and oxymorons. By the way, a "sophisticated redneck" for those that don't know, serves RC Cola on ice with Chicken In A Biscuit Crackers and Cheese Whiz as appetizers... =D

    ReplyDelete
  10. Tracy MooreApril 18, 2011 at 2:18 PM

    Oxymorons are so much fun! Great post. Stopping by as part of the A to Z challenge :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousApril 18, 2011 at 2:27 PM

    Great post -- one of my favorite poetry terms!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Tony PayneApril 18, 2011 at 3:09 PM

    Fun post. There are some really great Oxymorons.

    ReplyDelete
  13. ShelliApril 18, 2011 at 4:11 PM

    Great examples -- that was very fun.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Sherri LackeyApril 18, 2011 at 4:11 PM

    That was bitter sweet! :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. The Writing GoddessApril 18, 2011 at 5:14 PM

    Great choice for O, very funny.

    ReplyDelete
  16. SweetMarie83April 18, 2011 at 5:58 PM

    It's true you learn something new every day - I wasn't aware that the plural of oxymoron was oxymora. Great post, gotta love a good oxymoron! ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  17. Elizabeth MuellerApril 18, 2011 at 7:09 PM

    Great examples of oxymorons! Thanks for the hard research! :)

    ♥.•*¨Elizabeth¨*•.♥

    ReplyDelete
  18. Julie FlandersApril 18, 2011 at 7:49 PM

    Hi Langley! Stopping by on the A-Z Challenge, glad to have found your blog. Great post!

    ReplyDelete
  19. AnonymousApril 18, 2011 at 7:51 PM

    Great examples. This is something that can be used for unusual effects in literature/has been used to great effect by Shakespeare, as you've pointed out.

    Nice to meet you through the A to Z, though I had to drop out early because of a daughter's neck surgery. But I'm now back to posting my regular 2 or 3 times a week.
    Ann Carbine Best, Long Journey Home

    ReplyDelete
  20. Marie AnneApril 18, 2011 at 9:00 PM

    'Found missing' makes me want to hurl.

    ReplyDelete
  21. C.April 18, 2011 at 9:16 PM

    "Sophisticated redneck" makes me wish Shakespeare were still around, just to see how he would have worked that one into one of his plays. Perhaps in an update to "Mid- Summer" called "An After- Thanksgiving Sale at Walmart" ;)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Patricia JLApril 18, 2011 at 10:02 PM

    Love oxymorons. Always amuse me to try to think some up or find a list.

    ReplyDelete
  23. AnonymousApril 18, 2011 at 11:11 PM

    Jumbo shrimp!


    My “O” post: http://www.word-nerd-speaks.com/2011/04/old-mother-hubbard-economic-reality.html

    ReplyDelete
  24. Misha GerrickApril 19, 2011 at 6:21 AM

    I love oxymora - especially when people don't realize what they said.

    ^_^ I'm normally weird like that.

    ReplyDelete

Talk to me.

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)