The use of two contrasting words that are placed side by side is called

1. Analyze the question The question asks for the literary term for placing two contrasting (opposite) words side by side.

2. Explain the concept An oxymoron is a figure of speech that joins two contradictory or contrasting words together to create a striking effect or a deeper meaning.

Examples:

• "Deafening silence"
• "Bittersweet"
• "Living death"
• "Cruel kindness"
• Shakespeare: "Parting is such sweet sorrow"

3. Check each option

• A. Prologue: This is an introductory section at the beginning of a play or literary work. It has nothing to do with contrasting words.
• B. Oxymoron: Two opposite words placed together, such as "bitter sweet". This fits perfectly.
• C. Apostrophe: This is a figure of speech where a speaker addresses an absent person, an abstract idea, or an object directly, such as "O Death, where is thy sting?"
• D. Costume: This refers to the clothing worn by actors in a drama. It is not a figure of speech.

4. Answer The correct option is B. oxymoron.

5. Tip Remember that "oxy-moron" sounds like a sharp (oxy) and foolish (moron) combination, because it seems foolish or self-contradictory at first, yet it makes sense. In the exam, whenever you see "contradictory words side by side", think oxymoron. Do not confuse it with antithesis, which contrasts opposite ideas in separate parts of a sentence, such as "To err is human; to forgive, divine".