“I was clearly confused by the instructions,” said Maya to her sister , while holding up a misshapen knit sweater. How does the oxymoron “clearly confused” affect the sentence? A. The oxymoron captures the humor of Maya’s confusion. B. The oxymoron creates an effect of surprise. C. The oxymoron stirs curiosity about the instructions. D. The oxymoron suggests the complexity of Maya’s emotions.
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A. The oxymoron captures the humor of Maya’s confusion.
An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines contradictory terms for poetic or rhetorical effect. In the sentence provided, "clearly confused" creates a humorous contrast: the adverb "clearly" typically signifies something obvious or well-understood, while "confused" indicates a lack of understanding. By putting these two contradictory words together, it amusingly highlights the extent of Maya's confusion regarding the instructions in a way that is ironically obvious to others, likely including her sister. There’s an amusing juxtaposition in that Maya is so utterly bewildered that even her state of confusion is vivid and unmistakable—hence, it's "clear" that she's confused, adding humor to the situation.
Extra: Oxymorons are often used to create a witty or comical effect in literature and everyday conversation. The juxtaposition of two opposing words can provide a new way of looking at something, make us laugh, or lend insight into the complexity of a situation or emotion. Other common examples of oxymorons include "deafening silence," "jumbo shrimp," and "bittersweet." By combining words with opposite meanings, speakers and writers can express nuanced feelings or observations that a single word might not capture. In literature, oxymorons can add depth to a character's emotional state or to the themes of the work. In everyday language, they can draw attention to the peculiarities of life's experiences or simply entertain with a turn of phrase.