For instance, “loving hate,” “heavy lightness,” “feather of lead,” “bright smoke,” “cold fire,” and “sick health” are all oxymoron examples.

What is an oxymoron in Romeo and Juliet Act 1?

In Romeo's speech in the very first scene, he refers to “brawling love,” which is an oxymoron as fighting and loving are opposite actions. Other oxymorons in this speech include “heavy lightness” and “loving hate.”

What do oxymorons show in Romeo and Juliet?

Romeo and Juliet both use opposing terms, oxymorons, to explain their conflicting feelings regarding life, death, love and hate. Romeo uses oxymoron to reconcile his unrequited love and the drama his family faces with the Capulets.

Is serpent heart an oxymoron?

ii, Juliet's full line about the "serpent heart" presents a sentence oxymoron along with two phrase oxymora: "O serpent heart, hid with a flowering face!" The key contradictory words in the sentence oxymoron are heart and face, and each is part of its own noun phrase oxymoron: (1) "serpent heart" (2) "flowering face." ...

Who said Feather of lead bright smoke?

Quote by William Shakespeare: “Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick ...”

"What is an Oxymoron?": A Literary Guide for English Students and Teachers

42 related questions found

What is a good example of an oxymoron?

Oxymorons like “seriously funny,” “original copy,” “plastic glasses,” and “clearly confused” juxtapose opposing words next to one another, but their ability to make sense despite their opposing forces adds wit to writing. Reveal a deeper meaning. The dichotomy of an oxymoron often expresses a complex idea.

Is honorable villain an oxymoron?

A damned saint, an honourable villain! These oxymorons serve to illustrate Juliet's inner conflict. She is madly in love with Romeo, but she is angry and shocked that he killed someone whom she cares about.

What does Bright smoke mean?

Cigarette smoke is typically whiter than fire smoke, making "bright smoke" a tautology. Fire smoke-this definition makes more sense for the Elizabethan times. Fire smoke is usually grey and dull, making "bright smoke" a oxymoron. -the condition of being well or free from disease.

Is muffled still an oxymoron?

Oxymorons are in bold: Alas, that love, whose view is muffled still, Should, without eyes, see pathways to his will! Where shall we dine?

What does Juliet mean when she says O serpent heart?

Juliet then uses two oxymorons to contrast Romeo's opposite character traits. ... In her mind, she is hoping she has not been deceived by this Romeo guy; in other words, he might have a "flow'ring face" (meaning "handsome"), but actually have a "serpent heart" in him that would be cruel enough to slay her cousin.

What does Bright smoke mean in Romeo and Juliet?

“Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health, ... Moreover, “sick health” refers to the fact that the initial feeling of well-being ensured by love, can quickly transform into sickness as a result of unrequited love.

Who says my grave is like to be my wedding bed?

As the Nurse chases after Romeo, Juliet says, "If he be married. / My grave is like to be my wedding bed" (1.5. 135) . She means that if Romeo is married, she will die unmarried, because she will never marry another, but in the end her grave does become her wedding bed.

Is glooming peace an oxymoron?

Go hence, to have more talk of these sad things. Than this of Juliet and her Romeo. 'Glooming peace' is an oxymoron.

Is Star Crossed Lovers an oxymoron?

This oxymoron reflects back to the prologue's reference to “star-crossed lovers” – a tragic ending set up by the universe.

IS FAIR IS FOUL an oxymoron?

Oxymoron in Shakespeare's Macbeth

Fair is foul, and foul is fair: Hover through the fog and filthy air. In this particular scene, the oxymoron "fair is foul, and foul is fair" speaks to the witches' evil character.

What oxymoron does Juliet use in Act 3 Scene 2?

Juliet–“Beautiful tyrant! fiend angelical!” (Act 3 Scene 2 Line 75) When Juliet refers to Romeo as a “beautiful tyrant,” she is expressing an oxymoron because the acts of a tyrant are rarely referred to as beautiful. Juliet uses two oxymora (plural for oxymoron ) to describe her conflicting feelings toward Romeo.

Is still waking sleep an oxymoron?

An oxymoron is a compact paradox, or the consecutive placement of words that have opposite meanings. Therefore, the oxymora in these lines include the following examples: heavy lightness, serious vanity, feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health, and still-waking sleep.

Why is Rosaline not interested in Romeo?

Rosaline has vowed never to give up her "chastity" and to remain celibate. Of course, Romeo finds this a terrible waste and he complains about it for several lines. It tells us that Romeo is quite a sensitive young man and that it is perfectly plausible that, after seeing Juliet, he falls in love at first sight.

Is Big sip an oxymoron?

The word oxymoron is in itself an oxymoron. ... Oxymora are often pairs of words, such as the adjective-noun combinations of a “new classic” or a “big sip,” or a noun-verb combination such as “the silence whistles.” Oxymora can also be found in phrases or sentences that have a juxtaposition of contradictory concepts.

Who says O brawling love O loving hate?

Romeo also uses the familiar practice (by Shakespeare) of the oxymorons for noting the contradictions in life: "brawling love" and "loving hate." Romeo's quote is: Here's much to do with hate, but more with love. Why then, O brawling love!

Is plastic glass An Oxymoron?

Oxymoron, a word or group of words that is self-contradicting, as in bittersweet or plastic glass.

What does the oxymoron still waking sleep mean?

The direct contradictions in "feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health, Still-waking sleep" all refer to the family quarrel and the love of Romeo. Love should bring happiness and great feelings of joy, but instead it makes him sad and lonely.

Is happy dagger an oxymoron?

The contradictory terms of “happy” and “dagger” serve as an oxymoron that accentuates Juliet's willingness to take her own life.

Is Beautiful tyrant an oxymoron?

When Juliet refers to Romeo as a "beautiful tyrant," she is expressing an oxymoron because the acts of a tyrant will rarely be referred to as beautiful.

What excuse does Juliet tell Romeo to try to get him to stay longer?

At first, Juliet wants Romeo to stay and is trying to convince him it's still the middle of the night. She tells him it is a night bird that he is hearing, not one that makes noise near to sunrise. She tells him it's a meteor he is seeing that is making the light, not the sun.