Paradox Definition

The term Paradox is from the Greek word paradoxon that means
contrary to expectations, existing belief or perceived opinion. It is a
statement that appears to be self-contradictory or silly but may include a
latent truth. It is also used to illustrate an opinion or statement contrary
to accepted traditional ideas. A paradox is often used to make a reader
think over an idea in innovative way.
Examples of Paradox
What a pity that youth must be wasted on the young. George Bernard
Shaw
I can resist anything but temptation. Oscar Wilde
From the above examples of paradox, we can say that paradox creates a
humorous effect on the readers because of its ridiculousness.

In the famous play of Shakespeare, Hamlet, the protagonist Hamlet says,

I must be cruel to be kind.
This announcement does not seem to make sense. How can an individual
treat others kindly even when he is cruel? However, Hamlet is talking
about his mother, and how he intends to kill Claudius to avenge his
fathers death. This act of Hamlet will be a tragedy for his mother who is
married to Claudius. Hamlet does not want his mother to be the beloved
of his fathers murderer any longer, and so he thinks that the murder will
be good for his mother.

Oxymoron Definition
Oxymoron, plural oxymora, is a figure of speech in which two opposite
ideas are joined to create an effect. The common oxymoron phrase is a
combination of an adjective proceeded by a noun with contrasting
meanings

e.g.

cruel

kindness

or

living

death.

However,

the

contrasting words/phrases are not always glued together. The contrasting

ideas may be spaced out in a sentence e.g. In order to lead, you must
walk behind.

Example #1
Below is an extract from the play Romeo and Juliet, Act I, Scene I,
written by William Shakespeare.
Why, then, O brawling love! O loving hate!
O anything, of nothing first create!
O heavy lightness! Serious vanity!
Misshapen chaos of well-seeming forms!
Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick
health!
Still-waking sleep, that is not what it is!
This love feel I, that feel no love in this.
Dost thou not laugh?
We notice a series of oxymoron being employed when Romeo confronts
the love of an inaccessible woman. An intense emotional effect is
produced to highlight his mental conflict by the use of contradictory pairs
of words such as hating love, heavy lightness, bright smoke, cold
fire, and sick health.

Definition

of

Epigram

Epigram is a rhetorical device that is a memorable, brief, interesting and

surprising satirical statement. It has originated from a Greek word,
epigramma, meaning inscription or to inscribe.

Example
So all my best is dressing old words new,
Spending again what is already spent:
For as the sun is daily new and old,
So is my love still telling what is told.
(Sonnet 76 by William Shakespeare)

These four lines of a sonnet by Shakespeare are a good example of an

epigram. The poet refers to ideas and items simultaneously as both new
and old. He tries to say that he has spent something, which he already
has done. He is doing this to express perplexity with a lover, and also
shows his feelings of the desire of sexuality.

What is antithesis?
Antithesis is a figure of speech which refers to the juxtaposition of
opposing or contrasting ideas. It involves the bringing out of a contrast in
the ideas by an obvious contrast in the words, clauses, or sentences,
within a parallel grammatical structure.

Example #4
We find antithesis in John Donnes poem Community:
Good we must love, and must hate ill,
For ill is ill, and good good still;
But there are things indifferent,
Which we may neither hate, nor love,
But one, and then another prove,
As we shall find our fancy bent.

Two contrasting words love and hate are combined in the above lines.
It emphasizes that we love good because it is always good and we hate
bad because it is always bad. It is a matter of choice to love or hate
things which are neither good nor bad.