by Alin Sengjaroen
“There is a minor crisis. Yet the only thing you can do is write in deafening silence. Suddenly, you realize that your handwriting is pretty ugly. Still, it’s calming to write away about the living dead or the dead living.”
There they are, oxymorons, one of the literary devices that writers use subconsciously. Not to be confused with paradoxes or irony, oxymorons are created when two contradicting words are combined to create an interesting contrast. Sometimes they’re both nouns or one adjective and one noun, and so on. Oxymorons are special since they are not exclusive to just literary works. We regularly use them in conversations whether online or offline. You’ve probably heard of the term love-hate relationships or bittersweet. But first, how does that make any sense, and second, how do they improve our writing?
THE DIMENSIONS OF OXYMORONS
As stated, outside of writing, oxymorons are also used in daily conversations. Oftentimes, politicians use oxymorons as a way to persuade their audience. Since oxymorons are usually two contradicting words paired with each other – sometimes in ways you’d never expect -it encourages the listener or reader to stop and analyze the true meaning of the oxymoron. Phrases like “peaceful revolution” are often used by politicians.
They are also used to present irony, which sparks the listener’s attention to rethinking what a “peaceful revolution” would be like. Oxymorons present words in a new manner that the audience would not expect and take them by surprise. One of the main qualities of a politician is to possess the ability to lure the audience in with a single speech. They will use a mixture of paradoxes and oxymorons so the listeners will both take in the facts and be curious enough to reflect on their words–during and after the speech is given.
The jarring difference between oxymorons and paradoxes is that paradoxes are concepts that logically make sense. For instance, “the only constant is change” means that change is the only thing happening all the time. Logically, it makes sense but for oxymorons like “living dead,” which if one is dead, one can’t be considered a living thing; therefore, rendering the phrase illogical, yet it adds a hint of intrigue as you take the reader by surprise. In a nutshell, oxymorons are a stylistic choice, while paradoxes can be used as motivational phrases.
Using oxymorons also indicates that the person speaking has an advanced grasp of the English language. Politicians need to display their skills and knowledge to be believable; hence, oxymorons are a way to show their linguistic proficiency. However, excessive use of this literary device can confuse the listeners and drift away from the main point. A question is then proposed: How often should we, writers (and maybe soon-to-be politicians), use oxymorons?
WHAT IS THE RECOMMENDED AMOUNT OF OXYMORONS?
Frankly, there is no strict rule as to how many oxymorons can you use in a paragraph. But we must be aware of the impacts and use them accordingly to create an effect that takes the reader by surprise. To summarize, oxymorons are used for dramatizing, irony, specific descriptions, and sarcasm.
Using oxymorons in critical moments lets the readers linger on the message of the line like in endings. Not to mention, using them for first-liners will hook the readers in, especially when the oxymoron is unique. In descriptions, they will enhance the readers’ imagination and provide you to describe a specific feeling or object. For example, the word “bittersweet” describes the feeling of pleasure followed by a bitter aftertaste (feelings of regret afterward) which no other word can specifically indicate.
However, you should be aware that overusing oxymorons can reduce clarity and coherence. Yes, use them in every sentence. There’s no rule against that. But keep in mind that it may make the paragraph much harder to understand and follow through.
My recommendation would be the following:
For poems, I usually use a variety of oxymorons at the end and in the middle. Since endings in poems are incredibly impactful, using this literary device can dramatize and therefore, elevate the “punch to the gut” feeling.
For fiction, I often use oxymorons when it comes to descriptions and dialogues. As I stated, oxymorons are common in our everyday conversation, using these would show that the character has a lot of control over the language and a high level of English proficiency. This is especially helpful when you want to write a character who is good at linguistics. However, keep in mind to avoid using them in every dialogue as it can get cliche.
HOW DO THEY HELP YOUR WRITER’S BLOCK?
Oxymorons can be used as prompts to counter that writer’s/creative block. There are hundreds of websites showing unique and common ones that you can steal: “small crowd”, “seriously funny”, “silent scream”, “old news”, and so on. Using these combinations as a story prompt can bring out those creative juices. Not to mention, you’ve learned something new today about oxymorons so why don’t you try it out after finishing this article?
Besides that, you may also create your own oxymoron and use it as the first liner or the end of the story. Or write a poem that has at least one oxymoron in every line. Creating a challenge for yourself is a good way to get out of that writing slump. You can experiment with styles and find what’s best for you.
Regardless, oxymorons aren’t the ultimate cure for writer’s block. If the problem is caused by a lack of creative ideas then oxymorons can help you. Anything besides that means you should take a break until you’re ready to write again.
In conclusion, the oxymoron is a literary device that you can try when you’re stuck at writing. It can create dramatic moments, suspense, or even irony. Try not to overuse them too much and be aware of the situations you want to use them. Happy writing!
Citations
Abbood, None Husam Ahmed. “The Power of Oxymoron: An Analytical Study of Oxymoron in Political Speeches.” The Creative Launcher, vol. 8, no. 5, Oct. 2023, pp. 151–67. https://doi.org/10.53032/tcl.2023.8.5.15.
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