Oxymoron, Paradox & Juxtaposition Examples in The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet

Oxymoron Act I, Scene 1 Romeo: “brawling love, loving hate, feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health”
Paradox Act I, Scene 1Romeo referring to love: “a choking gall and a preserving sweet”
Paradox Act I , Scene 1Romeo: “Misshapen chaos of well-seeming forms”
Oxymoron Act I, Scene 2 Capulet: “Earth-treading stars”; “dark heaven”
Juxtaposition Act I, Scene 4 Romeo’s view of love and dreams vs. Mercutio’s view of love and dreams
Juxtaposition Romeo’s love, tenderness for Juliet vs. Tybalt’s hate and fury at Romeo attending the ballAct I, Scene 5Romeo: “Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight!” For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.”Tybalt: “This, by his voice, should be a Montague. Fetch me my rapier, boy. What, dares the slave … To strike him dead I hold it not a sin.”
Paradox Act I, Scene 5Juliet: “my only love sprung from my only hate”
Dichotomy, Juxtaposition Act I, Scene 5Light/ dark imageryRomeo: “She doth teach the torches to burn bright!It seems she hangs upon the cheek of nightAs a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear…So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows”
Oxymoron Act II, Scene 2Juliet: “loving jealous”Romeo: “sweet sorrow”
Dichotomy/Juxtaposition/Motif (Youth vs. Age) Act II, Scene 5Juliet: Had she affections and warm youthful blood,She would be as swift in motion as a ball…But old folks, many feign as they were dead – Unwieldly, slow, heavy and pale as lead
Oxymoron Act II, Scene 6Friar Lawrence: “violent delights”
Paradox Act III, Scene 2Juliet: “Was ever a book containing such vile manner so fairly bound?”
Paradox Act V, Scene 3Friar Lawrence: “I am the greatest yet able to do least”
Paradox Act V, Scene 3Prince Escalus: “Capulet, Montague,See what a scourge is laid upon your hateThat heaven finds the means to kill your joys with love.”
July 15, 2019