Final answer:
An oxymoron is the rhetorical device that combines a pair of opposite terms into a single unusual expression, juxtaposing two contradictory terms to create a dramatic effect or to highlight paradoxes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The form of paradox that combines a pair of opposite terms into a single unusual expression is known as an oxymoron. This rhetorical device is often used to create a dramatic effect by juxtaposing two contradictory terms, such as 'bittersweet' or 'deafening silence'. Unlike hyperbole, which is an exaggeration for rhetorical effect, oxymoron directly brings together two opposing ideas to add complexity or depth to a description. For example, Wordsworth's 'ten thousand' in I wandered lonely as a cloud is an exaggeration – a hyperbole – and not an oxymoron.
Oxymorons appear frequently in literature; they are used not only for poetic or dramatic effect but also to highlight paradoxes in life, such as the phrase 'the living dead' or 'precious junk'. Oxymoron can deliver a powerful message by forcing the reader to reconcile seemingly contradictory concepts.