What is an example of antithesis in literature?
Consider William Shakespeare’s famous line in Hamlet: “Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice.” This is a great example of antithesis because it pairs two contrasting ideas—listening and speaking—in the same parallel structure. The effect of antithesis can be powerful.
What is an example of antithesis?
These are examples of antithesis: “Man proposes, God disposes.” – Source unknown. “Love is an ideal thing, marriage a real thing.” – Goethe. “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” – Neil Armstrong.
What is antithesis and give example?
The definition of antithesis is “a contrary or opposite opinion, concept, or characteristic.” So, the sun may be the antithesis to the moon, the devil may be the antithesis to God, and a conservative may be the antithesis to a liberal.
What is the meaning of antithesis in a poem?
Contrasting or combining two terms, phrases, or clauses with opposite meanings.
How did Shakespeare use antithesis?
An antithesis is the setting of one word (or group of words) against another word (or group of words) with an opposite or contrasting meaning. Famous examples of antithesis in Shakespeare are: To be, or not to be. . . His disgrace is to be called boy; but his glory is to subdue men.
Why would an author use antithesis?
Antitheses are used to strengthen an argument by using either exact opposites or simply contrasting ideas, but can also include both. They typically make a sentence more memorable for the reader or listener through balance and emphasis of the words.
What is anthesis figure of speech?
antithesis, (from Greek antitheton, “opposition”), a figure of speech in which irreconcilable opposites or strongly contrasting ideas are placed in sharp juxtaposition and sustained tension, as in the saying “Art is long, and Time is fleeting.”
What is the purpose of Zeugma?
The zeugma is an interesting literary device that uses one word to refer to two or more different things in more than one way. Zeugmas will either confuse the reader or inspire them to think more deeply, but if they’re well written they will achieve the latter. Learn more about zeugmas through several examples.
What is antithesis in drama?
“Antithesis” literally means “opposite” – it is usually the opposite of a statement, concept, or idea. In literary analysis, an antithesis is a pair of statements or images in which the one reverses the other. The pair is written with similar grammatical structures to show more contrast.
Is Star Crossed Lovers an antithesis?
Antithesis really drives the tension in Romeo and Juliet from the beginning. In the sixth line of the play, the couple is described as “star-crossed lovers,” meaning that the events that follow have been predestined by fate. This balance between fate and free will weaves throughout the play.
How is antithesis used in Romeo and Juliet?
Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare frequently puts them side by side: ‘Here’s much to do with love but more with hate’, ‘my only love sprung from my only hate’. Such juxtaposition of conflicting ideas is called antithesis, and Shakespeare loves using it.
Why does Martin Luther King use antithesis?
His use of antithesis incorporates comparing the present to the future of his dreams and also comparing the present to the past. He emphasizes the word “Now” to underscore the sense of “urgency” he feels America needs to take to address current injustices.
Why do authors use antithesis in their writings?
Antithesis is the use of two contrasting or opposite elements or ideas in a sentence, stanza or story. Authors use antithesis in literature to establish a relationship between two ideas or characters. They may also use the device as part of a description, to drive a point, as a figure of speech or to be ironic or satirical.
Is bitter-sweet an example of antithesis?
The word “bittersweet” is not an example of antithesis; however, it is a great example of oxymoron. An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines contrasting terms for effect. So, because the separate terms “bitter” and “sweet” contrast each other, their combination creates an oxymoron.
What is the role of literary device in literature?
Literary devices are techniques that writers use to express their ideas and enhance their writing. Literary devices highlight important concepts in a text, strengthen the narrative, and help readers connect to the characters and themes. These devices serve a wide range of purposes in literature.