Oxymoron in "The Drunkard"

The father in "The Drunkard" seems to be a very strange character. Most people do not view funerals as he did: "It was an excellent funeral from Father's point of view. He had it all well studied before we set off after the hearse in the afternoon sunlight," (345). What kind of person gets excited over funerals? He was literally studying what he was witnessing before the funeral and becoming overjoyed at how "excellent" it would be. To me, that just seems sick if you find personal enjoyment out of the mournful loss of another's loved one. In the beginning of the story, the boy states that "it was a terrible blow to father when Mr. Dooley died," (342). I have no respect for alcoholics so I felt zero sympathy for the father at all. Even if he did experience a rough time, drinking was no way to solve it. He should have sought out his loved ones for real help, not a drink to help him forget.

Oxymoron in "Delight in Disorder"

A few significant oxymorons are found in Robert Herrick's "Delight in Disorder." The author presents these in lines 1, 12, and 14. These all serve to justify the overall message of the poem. "Sweet disorder" (line 1), "wild civility" (line 12), and "too precise" (line 14) appear to be rather contradictory descriptions. However, the speaker is stating that he thinks being perfect and precise is not nearly as beautiful as a little disorder. Without any disorder there is nothing to notice and nothing real. It is just a put-together picture. To the speaker, imperfection is perfection.