Which of the following examples illustrates an oxymoron?

Which of the following examples illustrates an oxymoron?

• A. Deafening silence
• B. Bright moon
• C. Ancient history
• D. Fast turtle

Answer: (A)

An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines contradictory or opposing ideas to create a new meaning or to highlight a particular concept. "Deafening silence" exemplifies this definition well. The phrase juxtaposes "deafening," which implies an intense loudness, with "silence," which indicates the absence of sound. This contrast emphasizes the profound stillness or the overwhelming nature of the silence, creating a striking image that evokes strong emotions or thoughts about silence itself. In contrast, the other examples do not contain contradictory terms in the same way. "Bright moon" and "ancient history" are straightforward descriptions without inherent contradictions, and "fast turtle" may imply an unusual characteristic but does not challenge the concepts of speed and the common understanding of a turtle's pace in a contradictory manner.

An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines contradictory or opposing ideas to create a new meaning or to highlight a particular concept. "Deafening silence" exemplifies this definition well. The phrase juxtaposes "deafening," which implies an intense loudness, with "silence," which indicates the absence of sound. This contrast emphasizes the profound stillness or the overwhelming nature of the silence, creating a striking image that evokes strong emotions or thoughts about silence itself.

In contrast, the other examples do not contain contradictory terms in the same way. "Bright moon" and "ancient history" are straightforward descriptions without inherent contradictions, and "fast turtle" may imply an unusual characteristic but does not challenge the concepts of speed and the common understanding of a turtle's pace in a contradictory manner.