Lourdes Oseguera Elizabeth Figueroa Period: 2

 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.

 ox·y·mo·ron  [ok-si-mawr-on, -mohr-]  bin/audio.pl?oxymor01.wav=oxymoron bin/audio.pl?oxymor01.wav=oxymoron

 An example “I like a smuggler. He is the only honest thief.” (Charles Lamb).

 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.

 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.

 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 at peace of mind even after all the battles he’s endured.  He tries his best to succeed but fails

 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 Romeo And Juliet Act 2, scene 2, 176–185

 “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.