antithesis definition literary term
The term antithesis when used in speech is sometimes confused with the use of irony, or words [used] to convey a meaning opposite to their literal sense. The two are often mistaken for one another due to their creation of an opposite situation for the audience. Antithesis: The opposition, by way of pointed contrast, of different words or expressions, as 'Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's.' In another sense the word signifies a variety of Metaplasm (q.v.). Vivian, Percival. A dictionary of literary terms. But we shall, on the present occasion, carefully avoid polishing the antithesis in question, but shall proceed to draw another picture as minutely as possible, to serve as foil and counterfoil to the one in the preceding chapter. Now and then the gay laughter of a woman or the chatter of children could be heard, for the red Martians are a social, pleasure-loving people--in direct antithesis to the cold and morbid race of green men. 1. opposite, contrast, reverse, contrary, converse, inverse, antipode They are the antithesis of the typical married couple. 2. contrast, opposition, contradiction, reversal, inversion, contrariety, contraposition the antithesis between instinct and reason. And I am the more persuaded of that suspicion , if one can call it so , by the fact that if you take , for instance , the antithesis of the normal man , that is , the man of acute consciousness , who has come , of course , not out of the lap of nature but out of a retort ( this is almost mysticism , gentlemen , but I suspect this , too ) , this ... Antithesis: The opposition, by way of pointed contrast, of different words or expressions, as 'Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's.' In another sense the word signifies a variety of Metaplasm (q.v.). How to cite the article: 3. (Rhetoric) rhetoric the juxtaposition of contrasting ideas, phrases, or words so as to produce an effect of balance, such as my words fly up, my thoughts remain below. 4. (Philosophy) philosophy the second stage in the Hegelian dialectic contradicting the thesis before resolution by the synthesis. An antithesis is used when the writer employs two sentences of contrasting meanings in close proximity to one another. Whether they are words or phrases of the same sentence, an antithesis is used to create a stark contrast using two divergent elements that come together to create one uniform whole. An antithesis plays on the complementary property of opposites to create one vivid picture. The purpose of using an antithesis in literature is to create a balance between opposite qualities and lend a greater insight into the subject. Antithesis (Greek for setting opposite, from ἀντί against and θέσις position) is used in writing or speech either as a proposition that contrasts with or reverses some previously mentioned proposition, or when two opposites are introduced together for contrasting effect.
It is used in writing or speech either as a proposition that contrasts with or reverses some previously mentioned proposition, or when two opposites are introduced together for contrasting effect.