Oxymorons and Paradoxes Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet

Oxymoron An oxymoron is a combination of words, or parts of words, that contradict each other. Examples: Jumbo shrimp Boneless ribs Bittersweet Honest thief Deafening silence ________________

Paradox A paradox is a statement that seems contradictory but actually may be true. Examples: I must be cruel to be kind. I am nobody. No one goes there because it’s too crowded. The beginning of the end. In order to lead, you must follow.

Romeo and Juliet = Paradox The Montague and Capulet families have been enemies for years and despise each other. They often have brawls in the streets of Verona (the play’s setting), sometimes resulting in deaths on both sides. Romeo is a Montague and Juliet is a Capulet. It is paradoxical that Romeo and Juliet should fall in love when they are enemies. “If our love is tragedy, why are you my remedy? / If our love's insanity, why are you my clarity?” “You're my end and my beginning / Even when I lose I'm winning”

Summarizer: Plate that Paradox INSTRUCTIONS: Complete the following steps in order to summarize our learning for the lesson. Select one of the oxymoronic or paradoxical phrases from Romeo and Juliet that you explained on your worksheet. On the front of your paper plate, create a visual representation of your selected phrase. The illustration should be colorful and creative, as well as include the phrase itself. On the back of your paper plate, write an in-depth analysis of your selected phrase. Be sure to include whether it is a oxymoron or a paradox, identify the speaker, explain the contradiction, and analyze how it relates to paradoxical love of Romeo and Juliet.