Oxymorons in poetry create vivid and memorable images, control the pace of a poem, and make readers pause to consider their meaning. They are sentences made up of contradicting words that create new meanings, and can give emphasis to particular phrases or ideas within a poem.
The role of the oxymoron in poetry is typically twofold: it is often intended to create a vivid and memorable image or phrase and to cause the reader to pause for a moment to consider the meaning of what has just been read. By combining two words or terms that are inherently contradictory, using an effective oxymoron can create a sentence with lasting resonance and a more immediately evocative sensibility. This powerful phrase can also help the reader pause for a moment to consider the meaning of an oxymoron in the work, which can be used to control the pace of a poem or to punctuate a point.
An oxymoron in poetry or any other type of work is a sentence made up of two or more contradicting words used together. Common examples include terms like “jumbo shrimp” or “bittersweet” and they are not just used together to create contrast, but also to create a new meaning together. When someone uses the oxymoron in a piece of poetry then the poet is typically trying to create this same kind of new meaning from using the sentences together. This means that simply juxtaposing two contradictory words is not necessarily sufficient to be considered an effective use of the oxymoron, since this greater meaning is required.
One of the most common ways a poet might use the oxymoron in poetry is to create an image or idea that is more powerful through the use of the oxymoron. This can give a particular phrase or idea within a poem greater emphasis within the work and can make the poem more memorable. Examples of this include lines like “Parting is such a sweet pain” by William Shakespeare, where the term “sweet pain” becomes quite memorable. Not only does this particular use of the oxymoron also include alliteration, but the idea of pain feeling sweet or somehow being something someone would enjoy makes for a far more evocative image.
The use of oxymoron in poetry can also allow the poet to better control the pace of a poem for a reader. Many readers may be reading the poem at a fairly high pace, which can prevent them from stopping and considering the poem as they read. When encountered with an oxymoron, however, it can be jarring enough to force a reader to stop and consider what, exactly, he or she has read. This allows a poet to control the pace of the poem and make the reader think about a point that may have special significance or greater significance within the poem.
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