Which phrases in this excerpt from Alexander Pope's "An Essay on Criticism" are oxymorons?

Such shameless Bards we have; and yet 'tis true,

There are as mad, abandon'd Criticks too.

The Bookful Blockhead, ignorantly read,

With Loads of Learned Lumber in his Head,

With his own Tongue still edifies his Ears,

And always List'ning to Himself appears.

All Books he reads, and all he reads assails,

From Dryden's Fables down to Durfey's Tales.

With him, most Authors steal their Works, or buy;

Question

English

Aiyana Henderson

15 October, 03:01

Which phrases in this excerpt from Alexander Pope's "An Essay on Criticism" are oxymorons?

Such shameless Bards we have; and yet 'tis true,

There are as mad, abandon'd Criticks too.

The Bookful Blockhead, ignorantly read,

With Loads of Learned Lumber in his Head,

With his own Tongue still edifies his Ears,

And always List'ning to Himself appears.

All Books he reads, and all he reads assails,

From Dryden's Fables down to Durfey's Tales.

With him, most Authors steal their Works, or buy;

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Answers (1)

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Rose · Answer 1

An oxymoron is a figure of speech where you connect two things that are opposite. Here, the examples are The Bookful Blockhead, ignorantly read. It is assumed that if you're a blockhead you're not bookful, and if you're read then you're not ignorant. That's why it's an oxymoron.