This document defines oxymorons as figures of speech that use contradictory terms and provides examples like "jumbo shrimp" and "pretty ugly." It notes that William Shakespeare used oxymorons in his works, such as in Romeo and Juliet with the line "O brawling love! O loving hate!" The document concludes that oxymorons serve purposes like creating humor, accidental contradictions, and emphasis.

1. Oxymorons
OLIVIA PETERS

2. Definition
 An oxymoron is defined as a figure of speech that
incorporates words that contradict one another

3. Examples of Oxymorons
 Jumbo shrimp
 Pretty ugly
 Act naturally
 Walking dead
 Passive aggressive
Can you
think of any
oxymorons?

4. Oxymorons in Shakespeare’s Work
 “O brawling love! O loving hate! . . . O heavy lightness! serious vanity!
Misshapen chaos of well-seeming forms! Feather of lead, bright smoke,
cold fire, sick health! Still-waking sleep, that is not what it is! This love
feel I, that feel no love in this.” – Romeo and Juliet
 “I will bestow him, and will answer well the death I gave him. So, again,
good night. I must be cruel, only to be kind: Thus bad begins and worse
remains behind. One word more, good lady.”- Hamlet

5. Purpose of Oxymorons
 Oxymorons are used for many types of reasons,
including:
 Humor
 By accident
 To create emphasis