Language fiction and journalism, even a person far from literature can easily be distinguished from technical or scientific texts. Wealth secret literary language- in the use of tropes, metaphors, hyperbole and so on.
One of the techniques often used by writers is an oxymoron (or otherwise oxymoron). Let's try to figure out what an oxymoron is in artistic speech how it helps writers create vivid, catchy phrases.
According to Wikipedia, an oxymoron is a combination of concepts opposed to each other.
It is deliberately used to give the text a special stylistic coloring and explanation of an unusual difficult situation.
In psychology, the following examples of the use of these stylistic phrases can be used to explain a particular situation:
- quiet cry;
- stupid scientist;
- false truth;
- ordinary miracle;
- honest lies;
- cleverly stupid.
Oxymoron is of great importance in literature. The fact is that it enhances the perception of the text, which means it causes interest in reading.
Examples are the following sentences:
- The cold sun will never be the same again.
- The big baby got up from the bed.
- This dry liquid terribly tears the throat.
- Hot ice touched my body.
- This terrible beauty subjected everyone to a slight numbness.
- There was a dark gap in the room.
- And like a cold fire, she wounded my loving heart.
- I learned much more from a silent interlocutor than from a speaker!
- This is the most honest liar I've ever seen!
What is an oxymoron for?
Based on these statements, it is safe to say what oxymoron is in literature - this is a special method of sharing words of opposite meaning. This means that what cannot be logically combined is combined.
Despite this definition, an oxymoron allows you to achieve an unusual and therefore memorable effect.
Oxymoron examples
In poetry, an oxymoron is a spontaneously born figure of speech that combines two or more opposite words. This allows the authors to create the most dramatic setting for the described picture and vividly express the perfection of the tense atmosphere of the text.
Example sentences using an oxymoron:
- Prisoners of freedom.
- Snow is like melting sugar.
- Forward to the past.
- After all, this is just a feminine man.
Oxymorons help to "revive" the plot of the text, fill it with deep feelings, emotions and bright epic moments.
This stylistic writing helps the author to attract the attention of readers, as well as to make his work more visible and popular.
Often, an oxymoron appears in the titles of works: "Back to the Future", "The Miserly Knight" and so on.
Oxymoron - what does it mean? This stylistic phenomenon has no boundaries and has a perfect, independent meaning.
Sometimes it is called an unfair association of opposing ideas, because it gives the right to exist to what never was - it creates a perfect paradox.
Important! The stress in the word oxymoron, according to the Dictionary of Russian word stress, falls on the second syllable: oxymoron.
In his study, Galperin states that this stylistic device is never reproduced exactly in everyday speech, but is always created anew. This is due to the high originality of oxymorons and their originality.
L. Vvedenskaya at the same time notes that this literary stylistic device originates from antonyms, while the nature of the interaction of the components of oxymorons is undoubtedly generalized.
N. Pavlovich clarifies that not all oxymorons are of a bright linguistic character. Some of them become oxymorons only in certain contexts. He clearly highlights the fact that often the combination of oxymoron is made with real absurdity.
This is the freshest look at such an attractive method of speech diversity. It is justified by the fact that the speaker himself covers with absurdity the situation in which he finds himself or which he observes from the outside.
Significance of the oxymoron function in the literature
The following structure of thinking is distinguished when creating oxymorons. Combine the following events:
- Negativity (death) - a state of gloom, wretchedness and gloom.
- Positive (beauty) is a phenomenon that determines joy, tenderness, pleasure, bliss and beauty.
These series of combined qualities take into account the most diverse traditions of understanding phenomena.
Once the meaning of the concept of oxymoron has been clarified and the approximate ways in which opposite words are used together, it is a good time to consider vivid examples from the works of famous writers:
- “Look, she has fun being sad” ().
- “That you made friends with bad glory” (Yesenin).
- “Rapture is the poison of poison” (Yesenin).
- “And the wretched luxury of the outfit” (Nekrasov).
- "Good bad guys" (J. Orwell).
- "Greedy sadness" (Voloshin).
- "Living death" (Ants).
- “I am pure in heart, but I will kill someone” (Yesenin).
- “We wanted stinging flour” (Akhmatova).
- “Death is a great celebration” (Akhmatova).
The role of oxymoron in advertising
Thanks to oxymorons, customers increase their desire to buy a particular product, as well as use a wide variety of services.
Oxymoron: interpretation, role in language
- This watch is ideal for independent and courageous women.
- At our tariff, a real sensation is a crazy price drop!
- Taxi "Fast Turtle" will instantly take you to the right place. Faster with us!
- Bank for adult children and their parents.
- Buy balloons and celebrate your senile youth to the fullest!
- The barking cat pet store offers bargains: 30% off all products!
- Tired of loud silence? Buy wireless music speakers!
Useful video
Summing up
So, the joint use of words opposite in meaning (oxymorons) is a kind of road leading to a radical change in the personal meaning of a word or phrase, as a result of which the broadest meaning is created. This poetic phenomenon is widespread in both ancient and modern culture.
Oxymoron
(Greek oxymoron - witty-stupid). A stylistic figure consisting in the combination of two concepts that contradict each other, logically excluding one another. Bitter joy, ringing silence, eloquent silence, sweet grief.
Dictionary of linguistic terms
Oxymoron
(oxymoron, oxymoron)
(other Greekόξυμωρον witty-stupid)
A combination of opposite in meaning (semantically contrasting) words, for example, "wretched luxury"; O., being a stylistic figure, enhances the expressiveness of speech. A combination of contrasting words. Creates a new concept or view: " Oh how painfully happy I am with you"(A.S. Pushkin). O. is one of the types of alogism that is appropriate in artistic speech due to some specific conditions.
Terminological dictionary-thesaurus on literary criticism
Oxymoron
(from Greek oxymoron - lit. witty-stupid) - stylistic figure, a combination of opposite words.
Rb: language. Visual and expressive means
Syn: oxymoron
Genus: antithesis
Ass: antonyms
Example:
"Living Corpse" (L. Tolstoy)
"The heat of cold numbers" (A. Blok)
"Optimistic tragedy" (Vs. Vishnevsky)
* Oxymoron, found, as a rule, in poetic works, always contains an element of surprise:
I will never forget (he was or wasn't)
This evening...
That sad joy that I survived.
It's an oxymoron, it's an oxymoron a stylistic figure, consisting in a combination of incongruous in meaning; contradictory unity, a kind of paradox. Oxymoron is also considered a kind of antithesis, however, antithesis is the opposition of concepts and phenomena, their fundamental distinction, i.e. its function is in fact the opposite of that of the Oxymoron. An oxymoron is often used in poetry.
Examples of using Oxymoron:
A.S. Pushkin has “my sadness is bright” (“Night haze lies on the hills of Georgia ...”, 1829), “I love the lush nature of withering” (“Autumn”, 1833), A.A. Akhmatova - “spring autumn "(" Unprecedented autumn built a high dome ... ", 1922)," So ceremonially naked "(" without a hero, 1940-62). Oxymoron often become titles: “The English Spaniard” (1613) by M. Cervantes, “Dead Souls” (1842) by N.V. Gogol, “Leaves of Grass” (1855) by W. Whitman, “The Living Corpse” (1900) by L.N. .Tolstoy. An oxymoronic genre designation "a poem in prose". For the New Age, Oxymoron is a "novel in verse", as well as a "story in verse", which arose in Russia in the 18th century and became the most important genre for romantics. An oxymoron may arise unintentionally, as a stylistic sloppiness. In M.Yu. Lermontov’s poem “Dream” (1841), “a familiar corpse” is, in fact, an Oxymoron that would look comical if it were not for the deep tragedy of the general tone and the atmosphere characteristic of sleep, blurring the boundaries between imagination and reality, life and death.
Synesthesia is close to the oxymoron- combining the impressions received different bodies feelings. In Russia, V.A. Zhukovsky began to practice it widely. The elegy “Evening” (1806) is indicative: “Oh, the quiet skies of the pensive luminaries ... How pale you have gilded the shore!” (actually oxymoronic synesthesia). In B.L. Pasternak, the sun “covered the neighboring forest with hot ocher ...” (“August”, 1953) is a metaphorical synesthesia. From prose writers great interest V.V. Nabokov showed to synesthesia.
The word "oxymoron" comes from Greek oxymoron, which in translation means witty-silly.
Do you know what an oxymoron is? Remember the sensational ads“Philologist” from Megafon, in which a small and very smart girl (at the very end) gives out an incomprehensible word to the phrase “flying fall”, from which her dad (E. Stychkin) literally changes face:
So - this is the very word - "oxymoron". And the phrase "flying fall" is a typical example of its use or, so to speak, its "use" in Russian.
I can imagine how risky it was to launch this video, because half of the country, firstly, did not hear what the smart girl said, and secondly, if they did, the reaction was something like this: “Who, who? Oxymoron? - I hear it for the first time!" It is gratifying that the video demonstrated not only the desire of the authors to draw attention to the brand, but also a useful component. Philological.
And who would have thought that it was from the video "Philologist" and the word "Oxymoron" that a real battle between domestic mobile operators would begin. And if Megafon had a ready-made chip - Oxymoron + media person in the person of Stychkin, then MTS had banal "dance lessons" sponsored by them. Waking up from a hard knockdown, the PR department of MTS went for broke, inviting heavy artillery in the person of Dmitry Nagiyev. This is how several solid promotional videos were born: “Nagiev is tired of dancing”, “Guess what track Nagiyev is dancing to”, “Masha, this doesn’t count!”, But all this was no good - the chip was never born.
Then, obviously, the creatives of MTS guessed what the matter was. It turned out that it was just necessary to combine the two most important components of success: the block of Nagiyev with the great and mighty Russian language. So, the tip of the iceberg of all torment was born - "UNLIMITED", and with it - a chip!
This is what the instructive lesson of the “philologist” and the “oxymoron” led to. I can imagine how many zeros went out of the MTS budget in search of a truly Russian video ...
So that the reader does not think that the magazine "sympathizes" exclusively with Megafon:
So, an oxymoron. What does it mean and what examples can be found in Russian.
For more exact definition Let's go to Wikipedia:
Oxymoron, oxymoron, as well as oxymoron, oxymoron (German Ohumoron< др.-греч. οξύμωρον, букв. - остроумно-глупое) - стилистическая фигура или stylistic error- a combination of words with opposite meanings, that is, a combination of the incongruous.
An oxymoron is characterized by the intentional use of contradiction. to create a stylistic effect. From a psychological point of view, an oxymoron is a way to resolve an inexplicable situation.
classic examples oxymoron actually a lot. But the most interesting example paradoxically connects several great singers of the Russian word at once: Pushkin, Gogol, Tolstoy.
Did Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol think about the deliberate creation of a stylistic effect, naming his novel with two incongruous words: "Dead Souls"? Of course I thought! And, perhaps, the cunning Gogol stole his name from the same Pushkin, on the idea and advice of which, in fact, it turned out famous work. The fact is that in 1828 Alexander Sergeevich wrote the famous poem "Poltava", in which he used oxymoron :
And the day has come. Gets up from the bed
Mazepa, this frail sufferer,
This dead body, just yesterday
Moaning weakly over the grave.
Later, already in 1842, the first volume of Dead Souls was published. Pushkin's "living corpse" and Gogol's "dead souls" are a paradoxical coincidence.
Oxymoron - Leo Tolstoy - "The Living Corpse", Photo: books-audio.in
But we must pay tribute to the mystical Gogol, he somehow, but tried to hide his "little hooliganism." What can not be said about Count Tolstoy. Lev Nikolaevich was really original when he wrote the play “The Living Corpse” in 1900. The work was published posthumously. The play of Count Tolstoy was very successful. In 1911 it was staged at the Moscow Art Theatre. The main directors were Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko and Konstantin Stanislavsky.
Soon the production took place in St. Petersburg. Since the text was translated into many languages, performances were also held in Berlin, Vienna, Paris and London. By the way, the pedantic British abandoned the usual name and translated the play as: “The Man Who Was Dead” (The Man Who Was Dead) The play took place in London at the end of 1912. Apparently, it is difficult for them to understand the stylistic effect oxymoron.
Throughout her life, the play was filmed 9 times! In 1918, The Living Corpse was adapted into a silent film. The main female role was played by the “screen queen” of Russian cinema at the beginning of the 20th century, silent film actress Vera Kholodnaya. It was one of the last roles of the actress. In February 1919, the actress caught a cold and fell ill with a severe form of influenza with pulmonary complications, better known as the "Spanish flu". terrible disease it took only a few days to kill the greatest star of Soviet cinema...
By the way, one more lover of beautiful effects, I.S. Turgenev and his story “Living Relics”, 1874. As an epigraph to his “living relics”, Turgenev took the words of the Russian poet F.I. Tyutchev - “The land of the native long-suffering - The land of the Russian people!”
The Russian land, according to the writer, is a special land, and it is inhabited by special people endowed with unprecedented spiritual strength...
The work is very autobiographical. I like Turgenev. His author's vision is captivating. And "Living Powers" were read with interest...
More examples of oxymorons
Surprisingly, the very word "oxymoron" (lit. "witty-stupid") is an oxymoron. But in relation to the Russian classics, it is appropriate to consider not the use of “witty-stupid” connectives on their part, but nevertheless the creation of beautiful stylistic effects, combinations of two opposite words. Let us turn to Russian poetry for examples.
I love the magnificent nature of wilting. (A.S. Pushkin)
But their ugly beauty
I soon comprehended the mystery. (M.Yu. Lermontov)
And the wretched luxury of attire -
Everything is not in her favor. (N.A. Nekrasov)
Look, she's happy to be sad
So pretty naked. (A.A. Akhmatova)
Oxymoron - "Ordinary Miracle", Photo: kinopoisk.ru Oxymoron is very common in cinema. This technique is actively and deliberately used as a way to attract attention, interest, make the viewer wonder, think ... We remember: “true lies”, “ordinary miracle”, “old New Year”,“ back to the future ”,“ there was a war tomorrow ”...
There are many oxymorons in everyday life. For example, when describing the qualities of people: “a courageous woman”, “feminine boy”. Phrases that evoke unexpected associations, discouraging as well as extraordinary personalities, arouse special interest and attract attention.
More phrases from everyday life “a long moment” or “complex simplicity” ...
Oxymorons, as we have already found out, are very often and intentionally used in advertising, but not always in good faith. For example, the expression "investing in the forex market" is an example of a professional oxymoron, but also an example of classic speculation with this beautiful term. The forex market itself is also distinguished by speculative actions, since the private foreign exchange market by its nature cannot be an object of investment, only speculation. However, today it is very fashionable to use a bunch - "investments in the stock market" ...
It is also necessary to distinguish between oxymoron and stylistic combinations of words. For example, the phrase "sweet bitterness" is an oxymoron, and "poisonous honey", "found loss", "sweet torment" are stylistic combinations.
And many more interesting examples oxymoron from everyday life:
Big half
- scary beautiful
- sad joy
- eloquent silence
-liquid Nails
- dry water
-Old New Year
- sad laugh
- sweet bitterness
- cold heat
- sweet tears
-afterlife
-a virtual reality
- deafening silence
- ringing silence
- powerful impotence
- dull shine
- long moment
- original copies
-eyes wide shut
- loud silence
-summer coat
- demonic angel
- sincere liar
- arrogant modesty
- voluntary violence
- drink to health
- unanimous disagreement
- benevolent enemy
- infinite limit
- educated boor
- little giant
- dexterous muddler
- married bachelor
-flame ice
- silent scream
- falling up
- happy to be sad
- chilling dust
- screaming silence
- a long moment
- complex simplicity
- sworn friend
- wavy surface
- clumsy grace
- powerful impotence
- public secret
- affectionate bastard
- stubborn consent
-happy pessimist
- soft hardness
- amorphous activist
- muddy clarity
- bitter happiness
- unbearable beauty
- unstoppable quiet
-low skyscraper
- Swiss refugee
- outspoken politics
- an honest politician
Here it is - the great and mighty Russian language!
*Examples of oxymoron are taken from the site: ktonanovenkogo.ru
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If you are interested, what is an oxymoron then this article is for you. often sound very nice. The term under consideration, apparently, refers to just such a category. Let's take a look at its etymology.
Oxymoron or oxymoron comes from the ancient Greek οξύμωρον, which literally means "witty-stupid".
In principle, it is already clear from the definition itself that this is a kind of contradiction. After all, if this or that word is witty, then it cannot be stupid at the same time.
However, this is the essence of the oxymoron.
By the way, the stress in the word has two valid options, on the second and on the last syllable: Oxymoron and Oxymoron. Moreover, it is quite allowed to pronounce and write this term through the letter “and”: oxymoron.
For clarity, we give such examples.
Examples of an oxymoron
- Larger half (if this is half, then it can no longer be more or less)
- Living Dead
- dry water
- old New Year
- deafening silence
- original copies
- True lies
- impudent modesty
- Brought up boor
- Clever muddler
- Silent scream
- sworn friend
- public secret
- Honest politician (subtle irony)
- Swiss refugee (and this is quite for a witty person)
In short, you already understood that an oxymoron usually consists of two words that contradict each other.
It is important to note here that it is precisely such paradoxical expressions and phrases that attract the attention of our brain. This business is successfully used by talented advertisers and marketers.
Surely you know very popular films whose titles are pure oxymorons. For example: "Ordinary Miracle", "True Lies", "Back to the Future", "Married Bachelor", etc.
Oxymorons in book titles
There are also many works in the literature that have the names of oxymorons:
- "Living Dead"
- "Living Powers"
- "Honest Thief"
- "Dead Souls"
- V. Vishnevsky "Optimistic tragedy"
- "Ordinary Miracle"
- D. Galkovsky "Endless dead end"
- L. Martynov "Rich Beggar"
- L. Gurchenko "My adult childhood"
Once you have mastered the meaning of the word "oxymoron", you will be able to successfully use this concept when communicating with people. After all, this figure of speech stylistically decorates the conversation, giving speaking person effect of a talented storyteller.
Oxymoron in literature
Note that poets often use oxymorons to embellish the lofty flight of a poem with casual contradiction. Here are some literary examples.
, "Poltava":
And the day has come. Gets up from the bed
Mazepa, this frail sufferer,
This corpse is alive, yesterday
Moaning weakly over the grave.
, "Soviet Russia":
, "Tsarskoye Selo statue":
Look, she's happy to be sad
Such smartly nude.
, "Poor and elegant":
The restless tenderness of a look,
And the fake paint licks
And the wretched luxury of attire -
Everything is not in her favor.
, "From Karamzina's album":
But their ugly beauty
I soon comprehended the mystery
And I'm bored of them incoherent
And deafening language.
Well, now you not only know what an oxymoron is, but also got acquainted with the most outstanding examples from world literature.
For dessert, we offer you to look at a magnificent, subtle and sophisticated oxymoron in the form of a picture:
To fix it buzzword in his vocabulary, use it at home a couple of times.
How to do it?
Well, for example, your mother or wife will prepare food for you. After tasting the food, gently say: “Terrible delicious!”.
If there is no reaction, then try to calmly but solidly ask the question: “Well, how do you like my oxymoron?”.
Believe me, admiration for your mind will not keep you waiting!
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