Oxymoron ... Anyone?

A friend called me and he was asking me what the reader meant by an oxymoron being utilized by yours truly in this blog. 

Simply put ... an oxymoron is placing two opposite words together ... to make an impact. An oxymoron is a literary device -a specific technique that allows the writer to paint a different hue (some poetic with abstract undertones to his writing). Oxymorons merge, fuse, and blend antithetical and contrasting words to coin a new word and create a new meaning. The contradiction and the conflict brought about by the newly coined phrase (neologism) allow writers to be playful with their language and writing - to make a dramatic effect.

Can two opposing words really be placed side by side with each other and create a new meaning? A newbie may feel oxymorons are illogical or inappropriate but if you look deeper ... it makes perfect sense.

Indeed the ideas seem implausible and questionable ... but consider this instance. When somebody commented: "You look awful ... you look like a LIVING DEAD!" You are living alright ... and since you miss your breakfast ... you look pale and ashen ... like a dead person. That is smart description indeed.

If somebody told you "Your husband's two-timing activities and midnight tryst is an OPEN SECRET. Implausible? No way! Questionable? I doubt it.  It is a secret you have been keeping ... now it becomes open ... because it's no secret ... no more. Everybody is talking about your husband's infidelity the whole time.

I just want to remind everybody not to confuse oxymorons with paradoxes. Both are a literary device that specializes in contradiction. But it is easy to know one ... when you see one.

An oxymoron is a descriptive device that places two contrasting words side by side to create a new nuance and a new definition.  On the other hand, paradoxes combine opposing sets of phrases, ideas, or situations.

In the next post below are more examples of oxymorons ... so you get accustomed to it.  Indeed it sounds improbable to combine them ... but if you think and delve deeper ... you will realize these words that are at odds with each other ... can play sweet music together.