Exploring Oxymorons Trivia Quiz

Answer: a rhetorical figure of speech putting together two seemingly contradictory words or ideas to reveal a deeper truth

The word is from the Greek compound adjective "oxymoros" (oxys-sharp, moros-stupid or dull) meaning "pointedly foolish." The word "oxymoron" itself illustrates the idea. As in many instances of word origin and meaning, there is widely differing opinion on what exactly constitutes an oxymoron, and whether or not certain phrases qualify.

Answer: "Little Big Man"

Saying that something is little and big in the same phrase is an obvious example of an oxymoron. "Little Big Man" is a 1970 Western/Comedy/Drama told through the eyes of a white man raised by Indians in the latter half of the 19th century American west. Even the phrase "American Indian" can be considered an oxymoron, since the peoples in question were not in India, and the foreigners using the label were in error.

The movie presents an extensive and nuanced picture of the interaction between white settlers and Native Americans.

The actual historical Little Big Man was an Oglala Lakota Indian warrior who fought with Crazy Horse and probably took part in or at least observed the Battle of Little Big Horn in June of 1876.

Answer: "Sunny Afternoon" by the Kinks

Silence makes no sound, being cruel is not kind, and if you're acting, it's not natural. Afternoons ARE sunny, but if you're looking for Kinks' oxymorons, try the song "Lola" off the album "Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One" released in 1970. His date is a transvestite, they dance by "electric candlelight," and things are just not what they seem to be.

Of course, some artist in just about every literary endeavor has utilized the impact of the oxymoron to grab the attention or ear of the reader or listener. Rock and Roll music is no exception, and given the contradictory nature of its most fertile and popular subject, namely love, it's no surprise many popular songs are built around some version of painful pleasure (example: "Love Hurts" -song written by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant for the Everly Brothers in 1960). It was later recorded by Roy orbison, Emmylou Harris, Cher, and Nazareth, among others).

Answer: dead mouse/ babbling brook

"Babbling brook" is an example of alliteration. A dead mouse might be unpleasant to contemplate, but the phrase, whether referring to a deceased household pest or a computer device drained of power, doesn't have the requisite "jarring paradoxical dichotomy" to be an oxymoron. All the other phrases can be considered oxymoronic.

Answer: Romeo And Juliet

These oxymorons are all found in Shakespeare's classic romantic tragedy in Act III, Scene II of the play. They are spoken by Juliet as she learns from her nurse that Romeo has killed Tybalt, her cousin. At this point she is expressing mixed emotions about her new husband. Whatever the literary device or lyric turn, chances are that the Bard of Avon set the standard with unmatched skill and creativity.

Answer: no

Some argue that "jumbo shrimp" is not an oxymoron. The etymology of "shrimp" is from the 14th century Middle English "shrimpe," similar to Middle Low German "schrempen," both meaning "to contract or wrinkle" (Merriam-Webster online dictionary). Therefore "shrimp" originally had no connection to size.

The phrase in question really means "large wrinkled crustacean." Of course as any youth of small stature who has been teased in a schoolyard knows, the term IS now and forever indelibly linked to size, so "jumbo shrimp" can be thought of as an oxymoron, if not in the strict sense, because for many it is the newer meaning that springs to mind instantly and creates the jarring contradiction in the phrase.

In the UK the item in question is called a "king prawn," making the argument moot.

Answer: sophomore

The term "sophomore," referring to a second year high school or college student (United States), translates from the Greek (sophos-wise; moros-foolish) literally as "wise fool." No doubt this alludes to a second year student having gained some wisdom but still being rather inexperienced. Of course, given the experience of many who feel their male partner has gotten stale, we could humorously stretch "fresh-man" into the category.

Answer: expect the unexpected

Looking for answers? I'll give you a definite maybe here. By definition, the unexpected is not expected, therefore if you expect something, it is no longer unexpected! The conjoining of the two opposites gives you pause, makes you think, "wait a minute..." Is that clear? Was that an answerable question or a questionable answer? Perhaps both.

For those who never had the pleasure as a child, a funhouse is a staple of many amusement parks where rather than just going on a ride, the patrons get to interact with a series startling noises, distortion mirrors, and other mildly scary surprises by walking through a house specially constructed to deliver the unexpected.

Answer: because they recognize only sparkling wine made in the Champagne region of France as true champagne

Champagne, according to special appellation laws put in place by growers and manufactures in France, and now adhered to by the European Union and most of its member countries, is only a very specific, twice fermented sparkling wine produced from Pinot Noir, Pinot Meaner and White Chardonnay grapes. It also must be produced in the Champagne wine region of the province in France bearing the same name. There are five distinct wine producing districts within this region, which is located approximately 100-120 miles east of Paris.

The other side of the argument, however, is the fact that since the 19th century, sparkling wines producers in California, mostly European immigrants, were already calling their wine "champagne" generically. Also, the United States never ratified these laws. For more on the complex legal issues, and the de facto compromise which exists today, see vinepair.com

Answer: Yogi Berra

Yogi Berra, hall of fame player and manager of the New York Yankees, was much beloved in the sporting world and eventually beyond the boundaries of baseball. The first quote related to his bemused take on the press reporting everything he said. Quote number two was a response to what he thought of playing baseball on the west coast after the Dodgers and Giants moved there from New York.

The final quote answered a question regarding his opinion of Toots Shor's, at the time a new Manhattan restaurant which had recently opened.

Another of his classics was, "Always attend other people's funerals, otherwise they won't attend yours."