Учебно-методический комплекс по учебной дисциплине «стилистика» для специальности «современные иностранные языки (перевод)»

Oxymoron 
is a combination of two semantically contradictory notions, that help to 
emphasise contradictory qualities simultaneously existing in the described phenomenon as a 
dialectical unity (V.A.Kucharenko). e.g. “
low skyscraper
”, “
sweet sorrow
”, “
nice rascal
”, 
“
pleasantly ugly face
”.
Antithesis
. This phenomenon is incomparably mоrе frequent than oxymoron. The term 
'antithesis' (from Greek anti 'against'; thesis 'statement') has а broad range of meanings. It 
denot
es аnу active соnfrontation, emphasized co-occurrence of notions, really or 
presumably contrastive. Тhе most natural, or regular expression of contrast is the use of 
antonyms. We hаvе already seen it: 
best - worst, wisdom – foolishness, light - darkness, 
everything - nothing
. Antithesis is not only an expressive device used in every type оf 
emotional speech (poetry, imaginative prose, oratory, colloquial speech), but also, like any 
other stylistic means, the basis of set phrases, some оf which are not necessarily emphatic 
unless pronounced with special force. 
d) Antonomasia
[
ֽ◌æntәnә′meiziә] is the use of a common name as a proper noun and 
the use of a proper noun as a common name. The term is derived from the Greek word 
antonomazein meaning to name differently. A title, epithet, or descriptive phrase may serve 
as a substitute for a personal name. It includes “speaking names”, characterizing the person 
meant, e.g. 
Mr. Snake, Mrs. Dirty Fringe, Mr. Altruism.
There are two types of antonomasia: trite and genuine. In trite antonomasia the 
association between the name and the qualities of the bearer is a result of long and frequent 
usage (Don Juan, Brutus). In genuine antonomasia this association is unexpected, fresh, e.g. 
He’d met Miss Original Pure and planned to marry her (F.Weldon). Antonomasia may 
serve: 
•
to designate a member of a group or class; 
•
to characterize the bearer of the name; 
•
to create humorous effect, 
e.g. 
When I eventually met Mr. Right I had no idea that his first name was 
Always 
(R.Rudner).