Antithesis

Examples Help! What is the definition of Antithesis?

How do you define Antithesis? What is a Antithesis? The word derives from the Greek word 'antitithenai' meaning to oppose' . Plural: Antitheses. The definition of Antithesis is as follows:

 

English Grammar & Terminology Definition of Antithesis - a poetic device
Definition: Rhetorical contrast of ideas by means of parallel arrangements of words, clauses, or sentences.
Meaning Opposition; contrast

Example: "action, not words"

Definition of Antithesis - a poetic device

Famous Modern Example of Antithesis
The most famous modern example of Antithesis was the words of astronaut Neil Armstrong when he became the first man to set foot on the moon

"One small step for a man, one giant leap for all mankind."

Other famous examples of antithesis are "To err is human, to forgive, divine." the famous quote by Alexander Pope and "The brave men, living and dead"  from the Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln.

Examples of Antithesis in Poems & Poetry
Poems with Antithesis examples can be found by the most famous poets including John Milton, Alexander Pope and William Shakespeare.

  • An Essay on Man by Alexander Pope "unlike short-sighted, egocentric humans, God “sees with equal eye” the fall of a hero and a sparrow, the destruction of an atom or a solar system."
  • Samuel Johnson, The History of Rasselas "Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful."
  • “Hee for God only, shee for God in him” Paradise Lost by John Milton.
  • “Too black for heaven, and yet too white for hell.” from “The Hind and the Panther” by John Dryden
  • Brutus: "Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more." from Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare

Antithesis of the Wicked Witch and Snow White
An example of a well known antithesis is between the characters of the Wicked Witch and Snow White in the famous fairy tale. Snow White is the antithesis of her stepmother, the wicked witch. They are characters of opposition and contrast.

  • The character of Snow White is good, modest, innocent, kind, happy and generous
  • The character of the Wicked Witch is evil, vain, jealous, cruel, corrupt, crafty, miserable and mean

Examples Help! Use of Antithesis in Poems & Poetry
Examples of Antithesis can be found in many examples of the poem, poems or poetry. Famous poets use this figure of speech to convey and emphasize unusual and vivid images. The use of strong word association changes the mode of thought and adds variation, embellishment and adornment to literary works.

Examples Help - Figures of Speech - Antithesis
In Figurative Language we use words in such a way that they differ somewhat from ordinary every-day speech and convey meanings in a more vivid and impressive manner. Figures, like Antithesis make speech more effective, they beautify and emphasize it in Rhetoric which is the art of speaking and writing effectively. Figures of speech such as Antithesis use word association to convey emotion and mood often in a non-literal sense.

Examples Help! Using Antithesis

Figures of speech such as Antithesis adds adornment, beautifies, colors, elegant variation, embellishment, embroidery, emphasis, exaggeration, exclamation, flourish, floweriness, irony, lushness and luxuriance to the English language. This page providing facts and info about Figures of Speech will help with the understanding of this subject.

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  • Poem, Poems & Poetry - Antithesis
  • Word association to convey emotion and mood.
  • Definition, sample and example - poetic device
  • Antithesis of the Wicked Witch and Snow White
  • Definitions, info, samples and examples of different English Figurative Language
  • Antithesis in Poems & Poetry
  • Antithesis examples of the Wicked Witch and Snow White
  • Antithesis - figure, image, trope
  • Word association to convey emotion and mood.
  • Definition, info, sample and example - figure, image, trope - Poetic device
  • Antithesis examples of the Wicked Witch and Snow White
  • Examples Help!

Antithesis

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