Paradox

A paradox, in literary terms, is a figure of speech in which a statement appears to go against what is known or expected about a situation. It is a statement that seems contradictory or absurd, but can actually make sense if analyzed in detail. For example, the well-known phrase "less is more" is a paradox, since it suggests that simplicity can be more effective than complexity.

Examples of Paradoxes:

• The liar's paradox: "This statement is false." If the statement is true, then it is false, but if it is false, then it is true.
• The paradox of Achilles and the tortoise: Achilles will never catch up to the tortoise in a race if the tortoise is allowed a small advantage. As Achilles approaches the point where the tortoise started, the tortoise moves forward a little further. And so on, so Achilles will never reach her.

Oxymoron

An oxymoron is a rhetorical figure that consists of uniting two contradictory terms in the same expression. Unlike paradox, which suggests a contradiction in idea, oxymoron is a contradiction in the terms used. For example, "the dark light" is an oxymoron, since the terms "dark" and "light" are opposites of each other.

Examples of Oxymoros:

• A thunderous silence
• a sweet pain
• A living dying

Difference between Paradox and Oxymoron

The main difference between a paradox and an oxymoron is that the paradox suggests a contradiction in idea, while the oxymoron is a contradiction in terms. That is, in a paradox, the contradiction occurs in the content, while in the oxymoron it occurs in the expression. Furthermore, the paradox is intended to be a true statement, while the oxymoron is designed to surprise the reader and often to create a humorous effect.

Therefore, we can conclude that although paradox and oxymoron have some similarities, they are two different figures of speech that are used for different purposes.