what is antithesis in tagalog

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Antithesis (Grammar and Retorika)

• by Richard Nordquist

Glossary ng Mga Tuntunin ng Grammatical at Retorikal

Antithesis ay isang retorika term para sa pagkakabit ng magkakaibang mga ideya sa balanseng mga parirala o clause . Plural: antitheses . Uri: antithetical .

Sa mga terminong gramatikal , ang mga pahayag na antitetiko ay mga parallel na istruktura .

"Ang isang perpektong nabuo antithesis," sabi ni Jeanne Fahnestock, pinagsasama ang " isocolon , parison , at marahil, sa isang inflected na wika, kahit homoeoteleuton , ito ay isang overdetermined figure.Ang aural patterning ng antithesis, ang tightness at predictability, ay mahalaga sa appreciating kung paano ang syntax ng pigura ay maaaring magamit upang pilitin ang mga semantiko na laban "( Rhetorical Figures in Science , 1999).

Mula sa Griyego, "pagsalungat"

Mga Halimbawa at Obserbasyon

• "Ang pagmamahal ay isang mainam na bagay, ang kasal ay isang tunay na bagay." (Goethe)
• "Ang lahat ay hindi nagkagusto, ngunit walang taong ayaw sa Sara Lee." (slogan sa advertising)
• "Maraming mga bagay na nais naming nagawa namin kahapon, kaya kaunti na ang pakiramdam namin tulad ng ginagawa ngayon." (Mignon McLaughlin, Ang Kumpletong Neurotic's Notebook . Castle Books, 1981)
• "Napansin namin ang mga bagay na hindi gumagana, hindi namin mapapansin ang mga bagay na ginagawa, napapansin namin ang mga computer, hindi namin napapansin ang mga pennies, napapansin namin ang mga mambabasa ng e-book, hindi namin napansin ang mga libro." (Douglas Adams, The Salmon of Doubt: Hitchhiking ang Galaxy One Last Time . Macmillan, 2002)
• "Si Hillary ay soldiered sa, sinumpa kung siya ay, sinumpa kung siya ay hindi, tulad ng pinaka-makapangyarihang mga kababaihan, inaasahan na maging matigas tulad ng mga kuko at mainit-init bilang toast sa parehong oras." (Anna Quindlen, "Sabihing Paalam sa Virago." Newsweek , Hunyo 16, 2003)
• "Iyon ang pinakamaganda sa panahon, ito ang pinakamasama ng panahon, ito ay ang edad ng karunungan, ito ay ang edad ng kamangmangan, ito ay ang panahon ng paniniwala, ito ay ang kapanahunan ng kawalan ng paniniwala, ito ay ang panahon ng Banayad, ito ay ang panahon ng kadiliman, ito ay ang tagsibol ng pag-asa, ito ay ang taglamig ng kawalan ng pag-asa, kami ay nagkaroon ng lahat ng bagay bago sa amin, wala kaming wala bago sa amin, namin ang lahat ng pagpunta direkta sa langit, namin ang lahat ng pagpunta sa iba pang mga paraan. " (Charles Dickens, Isang Tale ng Dalawang Lungsod , 1859)
• "Ngayong gabi ay bumoto ka para sa pagkilos, hindi pulitika gaya ng dati. Pinili mo kami na tumuon sa iyong mga trabaho, hindi sa amin." (Pangulo Barack Obama, ang tagumpay sa gabi ng halalan, Nobyembre 7, 2012)
• "Madali ka sa mata Mahirap sa puso. " (Terri Clark)
• "Dapat tayong matutong magkasama bilang magkakapatid o magkakasama bilang mga mangmang." (Martin Luther King, Jr., pagsasalita sa St. Louis, 1964)
• "Hindi malilimutan ng mundo, ni matagal na matandaan ang sinasabi natin dito, ngunit hindi ito makalimutan kung ano ang ginawa nila dito." (Abraham Lincoln, Ang Gettysburg Address , 1863)
• "Lahat ng kagalakan sa mundo ay naglalaman Ay dumating sa pamamagitan ng nais na kaligayahan para sa iba. Ang lahat ng paghihirap sa mundo ay naglalaman Ay dumating sa pamamagitan ng nais kasiyahan para sa sarili. " (Shantideva)
• "Ang mas matalas ang karanasan, ang mas nakahulugan ng pagpapahayag nito." (Harold Pinter, "Pagsusulat para sa Theatre," 1962)
• "At ang aking atay ay mas mainit sa alak Kaysa sa aking puso cool sa mortifying groans. " (Gratiano sa The Merchant of Venice ni William Shakespeare)
• Jack London's Credo "Mas gugustuhin kong maging abo kaysa alikabok! Mas gugustuhin ko na ang aking spark ay dapat na masunog sa isang napakalinaw na liyab kaysa sa ito ay dapat na stifled sa pamamagitan ng dryrot. Gusto ko sa halip ay isang napakahusay na bulalakaw, ang bawat atom ng sa akin sa kahanga-hangang glow, kaysa sa isang nag-aantok at permanenteng planeta Ang tamang pag-andar ng tao ay mabuhay, hindi umiiral, hindi ko dapat pag-aaksaya ang aking mga araw sa pagsisikap na pahabain sila. (Jack London, sinipi ng kanyang pampanitikan na tagapagpatupad, si Irving Shepard, sa pagpapakilala sa 1956 na koleksyon ng mga kwento ng London)
• Antithesis at Antitheton Ang antitesis ay ang gramatikal na anyo ng antitheton . Ang Antitheton ay may kaugnayan sa magkakaibang mga kaisipan o mga katibayan sa isang argument ; Ang antitesis ay may kaugnayan sa magkakaibang salita o mga ideya sa loob ng parirala, pangungusap, o parapo. (Gregory T. Howard, Diksyunaryo ng retorika Tuntunin . Xlibris, 2010)
• Antithesis at Antonyms Antithesis bilang isang pigura ng pagsasalita nananamantala ang pagkakaroon ng maraming 'natural' opposites sa vocabularies ng lahat ng mga wika. Ang mga maliliit na bata na nagpupuno sa mga workbook at mga kabataan na nag-aaral para sa mga seksyon ng antonyo ng SAT ay natututo upang tumugma sa mga salita sa kanilang mga magkakasalungat at kaya sumipsip ng maraming bokabularyo bilang mga pares ng mga salungat na termino, pagkonekta hanggang sa pababa at mapait sa matamis, pusillanimous sa matapang at panandaliang walang hanggan. Ang pagtawag sa mga antonym na 'natural' ay nangangahulugan lamang na ang mga pares ng mga salita ay maaaring magkaroon ng malawak na pera bilang mga kabaligtaran sa mga gumagamit ng isang wika sa labas ng anumang partikular na konteksto ng paggamit. Ang mga pagsusulit sa asosasyon ng salita ay nagbibigay ng sapat na katibayan ng pare-parehong pag-uugnay ng mga magkasalungat sa pandiwang memorya kapag ang mga paksa na ibinigay sa isa sa isang pares ng mga antonya ay kadalasang tumutugon sa isa pa, 'mainit' na nagpapalabas ng 'malamig' o 'mahabang' pagkuha ng 'maikling' (Miller 1991, 196). Ang isang antitesis bilang isang pigura ng pagsasalita sa antas ng pangungusap ay nagtatayo sa mga makapangyarihang natural na pares na ito, ang paggamit ng isa sa unang kalahati ng tayahin na lumilikha ng inaasahan ng kanyang pandiwang kasosyo sa ikalawang kalahati. " (Jeanne Fahnestock, Mga Retorikal na Kaalaman sa Agham . Oxford University Press, 1999)
• Antithesis sa Mga Pelikulang - "Dahil ... ang kalidad ng isang eksena o imahe ay mas malinaw na ipinapakita kapag nakatakda sa tabi nito kabaligtaran, ito ay hindi nakakagulat upang makahanap ng antithesis sa pelikula ... May isang cut sa Barry Lyndon (Stanley Kubrick) mula sa dilaw flickers ng nagniningas na bahay sa isang grey courtyard pa rin, may linya na may mga sundalo, at isa pa mula sa mga dilaw na kandila at mainit na mga Brown ng isang room ng sugal sa mga cool grays ng isang terasa sa pamamagitan ng liwanag ng buwan at ang Countess ng Lyndon sa puti. (N. Roy Clifton, Ang Larawan sa Pelikula Associated University Presses, 1983) "Ito ay malinaw na sa bawat simile mayroong parehong mga pagkakaiba at likenesses, at pareho ay isang bahagi ng epekto nito. Sa pamamagitan ng hindi papansin ang mga pagkakaiba, nakita namin ang isang simile at maaaring marahil makahanap ng isang antithesis sa parehong kaganapan, sa pamamagitan ng hindi papansin ang pagkakahawig .... . - "Sa Lady Eve (Preston Sturges), isang pasahero boards isang liner sa pamamagitan ng malambot. Ito ay conveyed sa pamamagitan ng dalawang vessels 'whistling. Nakakakita kami ng isang convulsive spurt ng tubig at marinig ng isang desperate, soundless puff bago ang sirena ng malambot na natagpuan Ang tinig nito ay isang kagila-gilalas na pagkamangha, isang lasing na pagkakasundo sa mga detalyadong pag-uulat na ito, na napawalang-sala ng matayog na pagsabog ng tunog ng tunog ng liner. Narito ang mga bagay na tulad ng, sa lugar, sa tunog, at sa pag-andar, ay di-inaasahang naiiba. ay namamalagi sa pagkakaiba at nagtamo ng lakas mula sa pagkakahawig. " (N. Roy Clifton, Ang Larawan sa Pelikula Associated University Presses, 1983)
• Antithetical Observations ng Oscar Wilde - "Kapag masaya tayo, palaging mabuti tayo, ngunit kapag tayo ay mabuti, hindi tayo laging masaya." ( Ang Larawan ni Dorian Grey , 1891) - "Tinuturuan namin ang mga tao kung paano matandaan, hindi namin itinuturo sa kanila kung paano lumaki." ("Ang Critic as Artist," 1991) - "Saanman mayroong isang tao na nagsasagawa ng awtoridad, mayroong isang tao na lumalaban sa awtoridad." ( Ang Kaluluwa ng Tao sa ilalim ng Sosyalismo , 1891) - "Madalas na pinapataw ng lipunan ang kriminal; hindi kailanman pinatawad ang nagmamay-ari. " ("Ang Critic as Artist," 1991)

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Antithesis in Tagalog dictionary

Sample sentences with " antithesis ", available translations.

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Antithesis in Tagalog

What is the translation of word Antithesis in Tagalog/Filipino ?

Meaning of   Antithesis in Tagalog is : kabaligtaran

Defenition of word antithesis.

• a person or thing that is the direct opposite of someone or something else.

Other meanings of Antithesis

love is the antithesis of selfishness

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Antithesis Definition

What is antithesis? Here’s a quick and simple definition:

Antithesis is a figure of speech that juxtaposes two contrasting or opposing ideas, usually within parallel grammatical structures. For instance, Neil Armstrong used antithesis when he stepped onto the surface of the moon in 1969 and said, "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind." This is an example of antithesis because the two halves of the sentence mirror each other in grammatical structure, while together the two halves emphasize the incredible contrast between the individual experience of taking an ordinary step, and the extraordinary progress that Armstrong's step symbolized for the human race.

Some additional key details about antithesis:

• Antithesis works best when it is used in conjunction with parallelism (successive phrases that use the same grammatical structure), since the repetition of structure makes the contrast of the content of the phrases as clear as possible.
• The word "antithesis" has another meaning, which is to describe something as being the opposite of another thing. For example, "love is the antithesis of selfishness." This guide focuses only on antithesis as a literary device.
• The word antithesis has its origins in the Greek word antithenai , meaning "to oppose." The plural of antithesis is antitheses.

How to Pronounce Antithesis

Here's how to pronounce antithesis: an- tith -uh-sis

Antithesis and Parallelism

Often, but not always, antithesis works in tandem with parallelism . In parallelism, two components of a sentence (or pair of sentences) mirror one another by repeating grammatical elements. The following is a good example of both antithesis and parallelism:

To err is human , to forgive divine .

The two clauses of the sentence are parallel because each starts off with an infinitive verb and ends with an adjective ("human" and "divine"). The mirroring of these elements then works to emphasize the contrast in their content, particularly in the very strong opposite contrast between "human" and "divine."

Antithesis Without Parallelism

In most cases, antitheses involve parallel elements of the sentence—whether a pair of nouns, verbs, adjectives, or other grammar elements. However, it is also possible to have antithesis without such clear cut parallelism. In the Temptations Song "My Girl," the singer uses antithesis when he says:

"When it's cold outside , I've got the month of May ."

Here the sentence is clearly cut into two clauses on either side of the comma, and the contrasting elements are clear enough. However, strictly speaking there isn't true parallelism here because "cold outside" and "month of May" are different types of grammatical structures (an adjective phrase and a noun phrase, respectively).

Antithesis vs. Related Terms

Three literary terms that are often mistakenly used in the place of antithesis are juxtaposition , oxymoron , and foil . Each of these three terms does have to do with establishing a relationship of difference between two ideas or characters in a text, but beyond that there are significant differences between them.

Antithesis vs. Juxtaposition

In juxtaposition , two things or ideas are placed next to one another to draw attention to their differences or similarities. In juxtaposition, the pairing of two ideas is therefore not necessarily done to create a relationship of opposition or contradiction between them, as is the case with antithesis. So, while antithesis could be a type of juxtaposition, juxtaposition is not always antithesis.

Antithesis vs. Oxymoron

In an oxymoron , two seemingly contradictory words are placed together because their unlikely combination reveals a deeper truth. Some examples of oxymorons include:

• Sweet sorrow
• Cruel kindness
• Living dead

The focus of antithesis is opposites rather than contradictions . While the words involved in oxymorons seem like they don't belong together (until you give them deeper thought), the words or ideas of antithesis do feel like they belong together even as they contrast as opposites. Further, antitheses seldom function by placing the two words or ideas right next to one another, so antitheses are usually made up of more than two words (as in, "I'd rather be among the living than among the dead").

Antithesis vs. Foil

Some Internet sources use "antithesis" to describe an author's decision to create two characters in a story that are direct opposites of one another—for instance, the protagonist and antagonist . But the correct term for this kind of opposition is a foil : a person or thing in a work of literature that contrasts with another thing in order to call attention to its qualities. While the sentence "the hare was fast, and the tortoise was slow" is an example of antithesis, if we step back and look at the story as a whole, the better term to describe the relationship between the characters of the tortoise and the hare is "foil," as in, "The character of the hare is a foil of the tortoise."

Antithesis Examples

Antithesis in literature.

Below are examples of antithesis from some of English literature's most acclaimed writers — and a comic book!

Antithesis in Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities

In the famous opening lines of A Tale of Two Cities , Dickens sets out a flowing list of antitheses punctuated by the repetition of the word "it was" at the beginning of each clause (which is itself an example of the figure of speech anaphora ). By building up this list of contrasts, Dickens sets the scene of the French Revolution that will serve as the setting of his tale by emphasizing the division and confusion of the era. The overwhelming accumulation of antitheses is also purposefully overdone; Dickens is using hyperbole to make fun of the "noisiest authorities" of the day and their exaggerated claims. The passage contains many examples of antithesis, each consisting of one pair of contrasting ideas that we've highlighted to make the structure clearer.

It was the best of times , it was the worst of times , it was the age of wisdom , it was the age of foolishness , it was the epoch of belief , it was the epoch of incredulity , it was the season of Light , it was the season of Darkness , it was the spring of hope , it was the winter of despair , we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven , we were all going direct the other way —in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.

Antithesis in John Milton's Paradise Lost

In this verse from Paradise Lost , Milton's anti-hero , Satan, claims he's happier as the king of Hell than he could ever have been as a servant in Heaven. He justifies his rebellion against God with this pithy phrase, and the antithesis drives home the double contrast between Hell and Heaven, and between ruling and serving.

Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven.

Antithesis in William Shakespeare's Othello

As the plot of Othello nears its climax , the antagonist of the play, Iago, pauses for a moment to acknowledge the significance of what is about to happen. Iago uses antithesis to contrast the two opposite potential outcomes of his villainous plot: either events will transpire in Iago's favor and he will come out on top, or his treachery will be discovered, ruining him.

This is the night That either makes me or fordoes me quite .

In this passage, the simple word "either" functions as a cue for the reader to expect some form of parallelism, because the "either" signals that a contrast between two things is coming.

Antithesis in William Shakespeare's Hamlet

Shakespeare's plays are full of antithesis, and so is Hamlet's most well-known "To be or not to be" soliloquy . This excerpt of the soliloquy is a good example of an antithesis that is not limited to a single word or short phrase. The first instance of antithesis here, where Hamlet announces the guiding question (" to be or not to be ") is followed by an elaboration of each idea ("to be" and "not to be") into metaphors that then form their own antithesis. Both instances of antithesis hinge on an " or " that divides the two contrasting options.

To be or not to be , that is the question: Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing end them ...

Antithesis in T.S. Eliot's "Four Quartets"

In this excerpt from his poem "Four Quartets," T.S. Eliot uses antithesis to describe the cycle of life, which is continuously passing from beginning to end, from rise to fall, and from old to new.

In my beginning is my end . In succession Houses rise and fall , crumble, are extended, Are removed, destroyed, restored, or in their place Is an open field, or a factory, or a by-pass. Old stone to new building , old timber to new fires ...

Antithesis in Green Lantern's Oath

Comic book writers know the power of antithesis too! In this catchy oath, Green Lantern uses antithesis to emphasize that his mission to defeat evil will endure no matter the conditions.

In brightest day , in blackest night , No evil shall escape my sight. Let those who worship evil's might Beware my power—Green lantern's light!

While most instances of antithesis are built around an "or" that signals the contrast between the two parts of the sentence, the Green Lantern oath works a bit differently. It's built around an implied "and" (to be technical, that first line of the oath is an asyndeton that replaces the "and" with a comma), because members of the Green Lantern corps are expressing their willingness to fight evil in all places, even very opposite environments.

Antithesis in Speeches

Many well-known speeches contain examples of antithesis. Speakers use antithesis to drive home the stakes of what they are saying, sometimes by contrasting two distinct visions of the future.

Antithesis in Patrick Henry's Speech to the Second Virginia Convention, 1775

This speech by famous American patriot Patrick Henry includes one of the most memorable and oft-quoted phrases from the era of the American Revolution. Here, Henry uses antithesis to emphasize just how highly he prizes liberty, and how deadly serious he is about his fight to achieve it.

Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take: but as for me, give me liberty or give me death .

Antithesis in Martin Luther King Jr.'s Oberlin Commencement Address

In this speech by one of America's most well-known orators, antithesis allows Martin Luther King Jr. to highlight the contrast between two visions of the future; in the first vision, humans rise above their differences to cooperate with one another, while in the other humanity is doomed by infighting and division.

We must all learn to live together as brothers —or we will all perish together as fools .

Antithesis in Songs

In songs, contrasting two opposite ideas using antithesis can heighten the dramatic tension of a difficult decision, or express the singer's intense emotion—but whatever the context, antithesis is a useful tool for songwriters mainly because opposites are always easy to remember, so lyrics that use antithesis tend to stick in the head.

Antithesis in "Should I Stay or Should I Go" by The Clash (1981)

In this song by The Clash, the speaker is caught at a crossroads between two choices, and antithesis serves as the perfect tool to express just how confused and conflicted he is. The rhetorical question —whether to stay or to go—presents two opposing options, and the contrast between his lover's mood from one day (when everything is "fine") to the next (when it's all "black") explains the difficulty of his choice.

One day it's fine and next it's black So if you want me off your back Well, come on and let me know Should I stay or should I go ? Should I stay or should I go now? Should I stay or should I go now? If I go, there will be trouble If I stay it will be double ...

Antithesis in "My Girl" by the Temptations (1965)

In this song, the singer uses a pair of metaphors to describe the feeling of joy that his lover brings him. This joy is expressed through antithesis, since the singer uses the miserable weather of a cloudy, cold day as the setting for the sunshine-filled month of May that "his girl" makes him feel inside, emphasizing the power of his emotions by contrasting them with the bleak weather.

I've got sunshine on a cloudy day When it's cold outside I've got the month of May Well I guess you'd say, What can make me feel this way? My girl, my girl, my girl Talkin' bout my girl.

Why Do Writers Use Antithesis?

Fundamentally, writers of all types use antithesis for its ability to create a clear contrast. This contrast can serve a number of purposes, as shown in the examples above. It can:

• Present a stark choice between two alternatives.
• Convey magnitude or range (i.e. "in brightest day, in darkest night" or "from the highest mountain, to the deepest valley").
• Express strong emotions.
• Create a relationship of opposition between two separate ideas.
• Accentuate the qualities and characteristics of one thing by placing it in opposition to another.

Whatever the case, antithesis almost always has the added benefit of making language more memorable to listeners and readers. The use of parallelism and other simple grammatical constructions like "either/or" help to establish opposition between concepts—and opposites have a way of sticking in the memory.

Other Helpful Antithesis Resources

• The Wikipedia page on Antithesis : A useful summary with associated examples, along with an extensive account of antithesis in the Gospel of Matthew.
• Sound bites from history : A list of examples of antithesis in famous political speeches from United States history — with audio clips!
• A blog post on antithesis : This quick rundown of antithesis focuses on a quote you may know from Muhammad Ali's philosophy of boxing: "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee."

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• How to Use Antithesis

I. What is an Antithesis?

“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. Antithesis (pronounced an-TITH-eh-sis) is used to emphasize a concept, idea, or conclusion.

II. Examples of Antithesis

That’s one small step for a man – one giant leap for mankind .  (Neil Armstrong, 1969)

In this example, Armstrong is referring to man walking on the moon. Although taking a step is an ordinary activity for most people, taking a step on the moon, in outer space, is a major achievement for all humanity.

To err is human ; to forgive , divine . (Alexander Pope)

This example is used to point out that humans possess both worldly and godly qualities; they can all make mistakes, but they also have the power to free others from blame.

The world will little note , nor long remember , what we say here, but it can never forget what they did  (Abraham Lincoln, The Gettysburg Address )

In his speech, Lincoln points out that the details of that moment may not be memorable, but the actions would make history, and therefore, never entirely forgotten.

Antithesis can be a little tricky to see at first. To start, notice how each of these examples is separated into two parts . The parts are separated either by a dash, a semicolon, or the word “but.” Antithesis always has this multi-part structure (usually there are two parts, but sometimes it can be more, as we’ll see in later examples). The parts are not always as obvious as they are in these examples, but they will always be there.

Next, notice how the second part of each example contains terms that reverse or invert terms in the first part: small step vs. giant leap; human vs. divine; we say vs. they do. In each of the examples, there are several pairs of contrasted terms between the first part and the second, which is quite common in antithesis.

Finally, notice that each of the examples contains some parallel structures and ideas in addition to the opposites. This is key! The two parts are not simply contradictory statements. They are a matched pair that have many grammatical structures or concepts in common; in the details, however, they are opposites.

For example, look at the parallel grammar of Example 1: the word “one,” followed by an adjective, a noun, and then the word “for.” This accentuates the opposites by setting them against a backdrop of sameness – in other words, two very different ideas are being expressed with very, very similar grammatical structures.

To recap: antithesis has three things:

• Two or more parts
• Reversed or inverted ideas
• (usually) parallel grammatical structure

III. The Importance of Verisimilitude

Antithesis is basically a complex form of juxtaposition . So its effects are fairly similar – by contrasting one thing against its opposite, a writer or speaker can emphasize the key attributes of whatever they’re talking about. In the Neil Armstrong quote, for example, the tremendous significance of the first step on the moon is made more vivid by contrasting it with the smallness and ordinariness of the motion that brought it about.

Antithesis can also be used to express curious contradictions or paradoxes. Again, the Neil Armstrong quote is a good example: Armstrong is inviting his listeners to puzzle over the fact that a tiny, ordinary step – not so different from the millions of steps we take each day – can represent so massive a technological accomplishment as the moon landing.

Paradoxically, an antithesis can also be used to show how two seeming opposites might in fact be similar.

IV. Examples of Verisimilitude in Literature

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Forgive us this day our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us . (The Lord’s Prayer)

The antithesis is doing a lot of work here. First, it shows the parallel between committing an evil act and being the victim of one. On the surface, these are opposites, and this is part of the antithesis, but at the same time they are, in the end, the same act from different perspectives. This part of the antithesis is basically just an expression of the Golden Rule.

Second, the antithesis displays a parallel between the speaker (a human) and the one being spoken to (God). The prayer is a request for divine mercy, and at the same time a reminder that human beings should also be merciful.

All the joy the world contains has come through wanting happiness for others . All the misery the world contains has come through wanting pleasure for yourself . (Shantideva, The Way of the Bodhisattva )

The antithesis here comes with some pretty intense parallel structure. Most of the words in each sentence are exactly the same as those in the other sentence. (“All the ___ the world contains has come through wanting ____ for ____.”) This close parallel structure makes the antithesis all the more striking, since the words that differ become much more visible.

Another interesting feature of this antithesis is that it makes “pleasure” and “happiness” seem like opposites, when most of us might think of them as more or less synonymous. The quote makes happiness seem noble and exalted, whereas pleasure is portrayed as selfish and worthless.

The proper function of man is to live , not to exist . I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong  (Jack London, Credo )

The opening antithesis here gets its punch from the fact that we think of living and existing as pretty similar terms. But for London, they are opposites. Living is about having vivid experiences, learning, and being bold; simply existing is a dull, pointless thing. These two apparently similar words are used in this antithesis to emphasize the importance of living as opposed to mere existing.

The second antithesis, on the other hand, is just the opposite – in this case, London is taking two words that seem somewhat opposed (waste and prolong), and telling us that they are in fact the same . Prolonging something is making it last; wasting something is letting it run out too soon. But, says London, when it comes to life, they are the same. If you try too hard to prolong your days (that is, if you’re so worried about dying that you never face your fears and live your life), then you will end up wasting them because you will never do anything worthwhile.

V. Examples of Verisimilitude in Pop Culture

Everybody doesn’t like something, but nobody doesn’t like Sara Lee. (Sara Lee pastry advertisement)

This classic ad uses antithesis to set up a deliberate grammatical error. This is a common technique in advertising, since people are more likely to remember a slogan that is grammatically incorrect. (Even if they only remember it because they found it irritating, it still sticks in their brain, which is all that an ad needs to do.) The antithesis helps make the meaning clear, and throws the grammatical error into sharper relief.

What men must know , a boy must learn . (The Lookouts)

Here’s another example of how parallel structure can turn into antithesis fairly easily. (The structure is noun-“must”-verb. ) The antithesis also expresses the basic narrative of The Lookouts , which is all about kids learning to fend for themselves and become full-fledged adults.

Shut Your Mouth and Open Your Eyes (the band “AFI” – album title)

The antithesis here is a juxtaposition of two different actions (opening and shutting) that are actually part of the same sort of behavior – the behavior of somebody who wants to understand the world rather than be the center of attention. It’s basically a restatement of the old adage that “those who speak the most often have the least to say.”

VI. Related Terms

• Juxtaposition

Antithesis is basically a form of juxtaposition . Juxtaposition, though, is a much broader device that encompasses any deliberate use of contrast or contradiction by an author. So, in addition to antithesis, it might include:

• The scene in “The Godfather” where a series of brutal murders is intercut with shots of a baptism, juxtaposing birth and death.
• “A Song of Ice and Fire” (George R. R. Martin book series)
• Heaven and Hell
• Mountains and the sea
• Dead or alive
• “In sickness and in health”

Antithesis performs a very similar function, but does so in a more complicated way by using full sentences (rather than single words or images) to express the two halves of the juxtaposition.

Here is an antithesis built around some of the common expressions from above

• “ Sheep go to Heaven ; goats go to Hell .”
• “Beethoven’s music is as mighty as the mountains and as timeless as the sea .”
• “In sickness he loved me; in health he abandoned ”

Notice how the antithesis builds an entire statement around the much simpler juxtaposition. And, crucially, notice that each of those statements exhibits parallel grammatical structure . In this way, both Juxtaposition and parallel structures can be used to transform a simple comparison, into antithesis.

List of Terms

• Alliteration
• Amplification
• Anachronism
• Anthropomorphism
• Antonomasia
• APA Citation
• Aposiopesis
• Autobiography
• Bildungsroman
• Characterization
• Circumlocution
• Cliffhanger
• Comic Relief
• Connotation
• Deus ex machina
• Deuteragonist
• Doppelganger
• Double Entendre
• Dramatic irony
• Equivocation
• Extended Metaphor
• Figures of Speech
• Flash-forward
• Foreshadowing
• Intertextuality
• Literary Device
• Malapropism
• Onomatopoeia
• Parallelism
• Pathetic Fallacy
• Personification
• Point of View
• Polysyndeton
• Protagonist
• Red Herring
• Rhetorical Device
• Rhetorical Question
• Science Fiction
• Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
• Synesthesia
• Turning Point
• Understatement
• Urban Legend
• Verisimilitude
• Essay Guide
• Cite This Website

What is Antithesis? Definition, Examples of Antitheses in Writing

Home » The Writer’s Dictionary » What is Antithesis? Definition, Examples of Antitheses in Writing

Antithesis definition: Antithesis is a literary and rhetorical device where two seemingly contrasting ideas are expressed through parallel structure.

What is Antithesis?

What does antithesis mean? An antithesis is just that—an “anti” “thesis.” An antithesis is used in writing to express ideas that seem contradictory.

An antithesis uses parallel structure of two ideas to communicate this contradiction.

Example of Antithesis:

• “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.” –Muhammad Ali

First, the structure is parallel. Each “side” of the phrase has the same number of words and the same structure. Each uses a verb followed by a simile.

Second, the contracting elements of a butterfly and a bee seem contradictory. That is, a butterfly is light and airy while a bee is sharp and stinging. One person (a boxer, in this case) should not be able to possess these two qualities—this is why this is an antithesis.

However, Ali is trying to express how a boxer must be light on his feet yet quick with his fist.

Modern Examples of Antithesis

• “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

Through parallel structure, this quotation presents an antithesis. It seems contradictory that one action could be a “small step” and a “giant leap.”

However, this contradiction proposes that the action of landing on the moon might have just been a small physical step for the man Neil Armstrong, but it was a giant leap for the progress of mankind.

The Function of Antithesis

An antithesis stands out in writing. Because it uses parallel structure, an antithesis physically stands out when interspersed among other syntactical structures. Furthermore, an antithesis presents contrasting ideas that cause the reader or audience to pause and consider the meaning and purpose.

Oftentimes, the meaning of an antithesis is not overtly clear. That is, a reader or audience must evaluate the statement to navigate the meaning.

Writers utilize antitheses very sparingly. Since its purpose is to cause an audience to pause and consider the argument, it must be used with purpose and intent.

Antithesis Example from Literature

• “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity…”

From the beginning, Dickens presents two contradictory ideas in this antithesis.

How can it be the “best” and the “worst” of times? These two “times” should not be able to coexist.

Similarly, how can the setting of this novel also take place during an “age of wisdom” and an “age of foolishness?”

The antithesis continues.

Dickens opens his with these lines to set the tone for the rest of the novel. Clearly, there are two sides to this story, two tales of what is the truth. These two “sides” should not function peacefully. And, in fact, they do not. That, after all, is the “tale of two cities.”

Dickens sets up this disparity to set the tone for his novel, which will explore this topic.

Summary: What is an Antithesis?

Define antithesis: An antithesis consists of contrasting concepts presented in parallel structure.

Writers use antithesis to create emphasis to communicate an argument.

• Note: The plural form of antithesis is antitheses.

• Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Meaning of antithesis in English

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• antithetical
• anything but idiom
• diametrical
• dichotomist
• dichotomous
• or otherwise idiom
• poles apart idiom

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

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Antithesis | american dictionary, examples of antithesis, translations of antithesis.

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• English Grammar
• Figures Of Speech

Antithesis: Meaning, Definition and Examples

Figures of speech , otherwise known as rhetorical devices, are used in the English language to beautify and make your language look and sound a lot more effective rather than a literal presentation of information. Each figure of speech has its function and is meant to perform its roles giving the context a unique effect. In this article, you will learn about one such figure of speech called antithesis. Read through the article to learn more about what antithesis is, its definition and how it differs from an oxymoron. You can also check out the examples and analyse how it is written for an in-depth understanding of the same.

Table of Contents

What is antithesis – meaning and definition, what differentiates an antithesis from an oxymoron, some common examples of antithesis, frequently asked questions on antithesis.

An antithesis is a figure of speech that states strongly contrasting ideas placed in juxtaposition. They contain compound sentences with the two independent clauses separated by a comma or a semicolon , in most cases. However, there are also instances where the antithesis is a compound sentence with a conjunction . An antithesis is mainly used to portray the stark difference between the two opposing ideas.

Antithesis, according to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, is defined as “a contrast between two things”, and according to the Cambridge Dictionary, “a difference or opposition between two things”. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary gives a more explanatory definition. According to it, antithesis is “the rhetorical contrast of ideas by means of parallel arrangements of words, clauses, or sentences”.

Knowing the difference between an antithesis and an oxymoron will help you comprehend and use both the rhetorical devices effectively. Take a look at the table given below to learn more.

Here are some of the most common examples of antithesis for your reference.

• Hope for the best; prepare for the worst.
• Keep your mouth closed and your eyes open.
• “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. It was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness.” – Charles Dickens
• “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.” – Neil Armstrong
• “Better to reign in Hell, than to serve in Heaven.” – John Milton
• Speech is silver, but silence is gold.
• “Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice.” – William Shakespeare
• Keep your friends close; keep your enemies closer.
• “To err is human; to forgive divine.” – Alexander Pope
• Money is the root of all evil: poverty is the fruit of all goodness.

What is antithesis?

An antithesis is a figure of speech that states strongly contrasting ideas placed in juxtaposition. They contain compound sentences with the two independent clauses separated by a comma or a semicolon, in most cases. However, there are also instances where the antithesis is a compound sentence with a conjunction.

What is the definition of antithesis?

What is the difference between antithesis and oxymoron.

The main difference between an antithesis and an oxymoron is that antithesis refers to the use of two contrasting ideas or thoughts conveyed in two independent clauses placed in juxtaposition, separated by a comma, a semicolon or a conjunction; whereas, the term ‘oxymoron’ refers to the use of two opposite words within a phrase to create an effect.

Give some examples of antithesis.

Here are a few examples of antithesis for your reference.

• “Love is an ideal thing, marriage a real thing.” – Goethe
• “Folks who have no vices have very few virtues.” – Abraham Lincoln
• “Man proposes, God disposes.”
• Beggars can’t be choosers.
• Be slow in choosing, but slower in changing.

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