From the given options, select the one which correctly identifies the figure of speech (poetic device) used in the expression -
She accepted it as the kind cruelty of the surgeon's knife
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is option 2: Oxymoron
The expression "kind cruelty of the surgeon's knife" contains two opposite ideas:
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Kindness (a positive, gentle action)
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Cruelty (a harsh, painful action)
Putting these contradictory terms together is an example of an oxymoron, which is a figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory ideas to create a striking effect or reveal a deeper truth.
Why not the other options?
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Metaphor: A direct comparison between two unrelated things (e.g., “Time is a thief”). This sentence is not making a metaphorical comparison.
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Personification: Giving human qualities to non-human things. There is no human-like action given to an object here.
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Irony: When the opposite of what is expected happens or is said. This sentence does not show contradiction in meaning or expectation but rather uses contrasting words together.