Question

Which figure of speech is used in this text?

Mr. Wolfsheim, forgetting the more sentimental atmosphere of the old Metropole, began
to eat with ferocious delicacy.
-F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

hyperbole or oxymoron

Answer 1

The figure of speech in the text from 'The Great Gatsby' is an oxymoron, with 'ferocious delicacy' pairing contradictory terms to describe Mr. Wolfsheim's eating manner.

Step-by-step explanation:

The figure of speech used in the text from F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby is an oxymoron. The phrase 'ferocious delicacy' combines two contradictory terms to create a unique description of Mr. Wolfsheim's manner of eating. He eats in a manner that is simultaneously aggressive and refined, which illustrates this figure of speech perfectly. An oxymoron is a rhetorical device that pairs opposites to create a paradoxical effect, enhancing the description and leaving a memorable impression in the reader's mind. Unlike the hyperbole, which involves exaggeration to make a point, the oxymoron relies on contradiction to enrich the text.