Explore one example of oxymoron in ‘Climbing My Grandfather’.

An oxymoron 'warm ice' is used to describe the skin on his fingers. The contrast highlights something both deeply familiar and reassuring and something thrilling and slightly unnerving – possible unnerving because of the awe and wonder the grandson feels for his grandfather.

 An oxymoron is used in line 10, comparing the grandfather’s fingers to ‘warm ice.’ Such a contradiction is reflective of the fact that the grandfather’s skin may be cold, but that he is a warm, kind person. Despite his large, formidable exterior, the grandfather holds an inner warmth that makes him accessible to/ loved by the child. The oxymoron is found in the following, Quote: “the skin of his finger is smooth and thick like warm ice. On his arm I discover”