antithesis literary journal

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Blogs / Language / Antithesis Examples, Definition, and Meaning

Antithesis Examples, Definition, and Meaning

Antithesis is a fantastic literary device that can add some much needed depth to your writing. If you want your prose to resonate with readers, this is one way to do it. 

Antithesis is all about highlighting contrasts powerfully. Whether you’re writing internal thought, dialogue, or narrative voice, mastering antithesis can take your writing to the next level.

What is Antithesis?

“You’re hot then you’re cold,

You’re yes then you’re no,

You’re in then you’re out,

You’re up then you’re down.”

No, I’m not singing you this song (maybe a little off key) because I’m a huge Katy Perry fan, but I am singing it to you because it’s the perfect example of antithesis.

That’s all well and good, Shane, you cry, but what in the name of Shakespere’s favorite quill is antithesis? And do you have any antithesis examples, other than from Katy Perry tunes?

Great questions.

Luckily for you, I have answers.

Let’s get technical for a second and look at the dictionary definition of antithesis. Antithesis is “The direct opposite” and, “The rhetorical contrast of ideas by means of parallel arrangements of words, clauses, or sentences.”

If we break this down, we can say antithesis requires two things: direct contrasting opposites and parallel sentence structures.

Direct Contrasting Opposites

Glance at the Katy Perry song I so lovingly sang you (no comments about shattered glass and squealing cats, thank you very much), and you’ll see each line of the chorus contains a direct contrasting opposite:

Each of these paired terms are in direct contrast with one another.

Parallel Sentence Structures

Take another glance, and you’ll spot the parallel sentence structure of each line (also known as parallelism), which gives writing an almost musical effect.

• You’re _____ then you’re _____

The repetition (parallelism) of this sentence structure makes it catchy and easy to remember.

Why You Should Use Antithesis in Your Writing

You’ll find antithesis used in song lyrics, particularly choruses, all the time. That’s because the use of direct opposites and parallel sentence structures makes the words catchy, memorable, and powerful.

But antithesis isn’t useful for songwriters alone. Oh, no, my writerly friend. Us fiction writers can use it to supercharge our writing too.

Remember what I said? Antithesis makes writing catchy, memorable, and powerful.

And who doesn’t want their writing to be all those things?

You can use antithesis to:

• Highlight the stark difference between two opposing ideas
• Create strong imagery through direct contrast
• Reinforce a point in a way readers will remember
• Shine a spotlight on two contrasting emotions to create resonance

Now you know what antithesis is, and why you should use it in your writing, let’s look at some other literary devices that are often confused with antithesis because they’re similar, yet subtly different.

Antithesis, Juxtaposition, Oxymoron: What’s the Difference?

You’re killing it with these questions, and that’s another excellent one.

On the face of it, it’s hard to spot the differences between these three literary devices because they’re so subtle, but they are different.

Here’s why.

Antithesis vs Juxtaposition

Antithesis and juxtaposition are both used to create contrast, so it’s easy to get them mixed up.

Here’s how I remember the difference between them.

An antithesis is made up of direct contrasting opposites and is presented as a parallelism. A juxtaposition can show contrast through differences and similarities, does not require a contrast of direct opposites, and is not presented as a parallelism.

For example:

“In the early morning, the city awakens with the hum of cars and the murmur of people, while the forest stirs with the rustle of leaves and the songs of birds.”

This juxtaposition places the city and the forest side by side, not to contrast their differences but to highlight their similarities. Both environments wake to sounds and movements, creating a parallel that draws attention to their shared qualities of liveliness and renewal at the start of the day.

The city awakens to the sounds of humankind, and the forest awakens to the sounds of nature. Humming cars and the songs of birds are not direct opposites, but they are different enough to create a contrast.

See how these wake up comparisons work for a juxtaposition, but not an antithesis?

Antithesis vs Oxymoron

An oxymoron is a figure of speech where two contradictory terms are placed side by side to create a paradoxical effect. You can use them to add complexity and depth to your writing.

Examples include:

• Deafening silence (creating loudness from quietude)
• Bittersweet (two opposing flavors)
• Act naturally (actors contrive a performance, which is not their natural state)

These short turns of phrase don’t have the musical quality of an antithesis and, like juxtapositions, don’t require a contrast of exact opposites.

Now we’re clear on the differences between these oft-confused terms, let’s take a peek at some real-world examples of antithesis in action.

Antithesis Examples

Examples of antithesis in books, a tale of two cities by charles dickens.

It would be remiss of me not to start with the most famous example of antithesis in literature because if we want catchy and memorable, this is where we’re going to find it.

The opening paragraph of A Tale of Two Cities is:

“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.”

Direct Opposites

• Wisdom/Foolishness
• Belief/Incredulity
• Light/Darkness
• Hope/Despair
• Everything/Nothing
• Heaven/The other way

Parallelism

• It was the _____ of times, it was the _____ of times
• It was the age of _____, it was the age of _____
• It was the epoch of _____, it was the epoch of _____

Dickens was a master of antithesis and created one of the most memorable book openings of all time using this literary device.

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespere

From one classic to another, let’s take a look at this example from Shakespere’s infamous tragedy, Romeo and Juliet , which reads:

“O brawling love! O loving hate!”

This line from Act 1, Scene 1 is another example of antithesis used to perfection.

Let’s break it down.

• Brawling/Loving
• O _____ing _____! O _____ing _____!

There are many reasons why lines from classic literature are so catchy, and antithesis is one of them.

Antithesis Examples in Poetry

The clod and the pebble by william blake.

The first example of antithesis in poetry comes from The Clod and the Pebble by William Blake. The first stanza ends with the line:

“And builds a Heaven in Hell’s despair.”

And the last stanza of the same poem ends with the line:

“And builds a Hell in Heaven’s despite.”

• Heaven/Hell
• Hell/Heaven
• And builds a _____ in _____ despair.
• And builds a _____ in _____ despite.

Fire and Ice by Robert Frost

Robert Frost uses antithesis in his poem, Fire and Ice , when he writes:

“Some say the world will end in fire,

Some say in ice.”

• Some say the world will end in _____,
• Some say in _____.

The repetition of the phrase, “Some say,” creates the parallelism.

Antithesis Sentence Examples

Now you’re becoming an expert on antithesis, you can start to write your own sentences using this literary device.

Here are two examples:

“He was as humble as a servant yet as proud as a king.”

• Humble/Proud
• Servant/King
• He was as _____ as a _____ yet as _____ as a _____.”

“Her smile contained a world of joy and a world of sorrow.”

• A world of _____ and a world of _____

3 Tips For Using Antithesis in Your Writing

If you want to make your writing memorable by using antithesis, here are my top three tips for nailing it.

Tip #1: Less is More

Just like any literary device—whether it’s metaphors and similes, asyndeton and polysyndeton, or personification and onomatopoeia—less is more.

We use every literary device to create an effect, but the more frequently you use literary devices in the same piece of work, the less dramatic that effect becomes. And, if you use the same literary device too frequently, it will become yawn inducing, repetitive, and could lead to readers putting your book down.

Nobody wants that, so use antithesis sparingly.

Tip #2: Study Contrasts in Literature

To use antithesis well, start studying contrasts.

Read your favorite novels and pay attention to the way your favorite authors create juxtapositions in their writing.

It goes without saying, I’m not talking about plagiarism here, but I do suggest you take inspiration from your go to novels, and model any techniques that resonate with you. This is where the art of reading like a writer comes in.

Tip #3: Read Poetry for Inspiration

Remember, a key component of antithesis is parallelisms, and parallelisms give your writing a musical quality.

To get a feel for how this looks on the page, and how it feels to read, study poetry.

Poetry (of the rhyming variety) has that same lyrical quality as parallelisms, and learning from the greats can really help you hone this technique.

Antithesis Literary Device Conclusion

Antithesis is a powerful literary tool you can use to craft engaging, memorable prose. By juxtaposing direct opposites in parallel structures, you’ll create striking contrasts that highlight key themes, emotions, and character traits.

As we’ve seen in classics like A Tale of Two Cities and Romeo and Juliet, antithesis can make writing more impactful, resonant, and memorable.

To effectively incorporate antithesis into your writing, remember to use it sparingly to maintain its dramatic effect. Study contrasts in literature to understand how masterful authors create powerful juxtapositions, and immerse yourself in poetry to appreciate the musical quality parallelisms bring to the text.

By following these tips, you can harness the full potential of antithesis to elevate your storytelling and leave a lasting impression on your readers.

Definition of Antithesis

Examples of antithesis in everyday speech, common examples of antithesis from famous speeches, examples of proverbs featuring antithesis, utilizing antithesis in writing, antithesis and parallelism, antithesis and juxtaposition, use of antithesis in sentences  , examples of antithesis in literature, example 1:  hamlet (william shakespeare).

Give every man thine ear, but few thy voice ; Take each man’s censure, but reserve thy judgment.

Example 2:  Paradise Lost  (John Milton)

Here at least We shall be free; the Almighty hath not built Here for his envy, will not drive us hence: Here we may reign secure, and in my choice To reign is worth ambition though in Hell: Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heaven.

Example 3:  Fire and Ice  (Robert Frost)

Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice. From what I’ve tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire. But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate To say that for destruction ice Is also great And would suffice.

Example 4: The Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln

We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives so that nation might live.

The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.

The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.

Function of Antithesis

Synonyms of antithesis, post navigation.

Literary Magazine

Antithesis Journal

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The journal publishes a range of works that consider and interrogate contemporary thinking and culture, ranging from philosophical treatises to avant-garde works of poetry and fiction and committed to promoting new works that fall between the cracks of traditional genre

• Vibe: Top-tier stuff. Not Paris Review, but ok

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When the magazine wants to publish your previously published work. Requirements vary

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All submissions should be accompanied by a biography (150 words maximum) and research articles should also include an abstract (300 words maximum). Biographies should include your name, where you’re from, your studies, writing/research interests, if you’ve been published before and an interesting witticism about yourself.

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Written submissions should be 1200 words or under and submitted as Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx) files.

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Especially interested in cultural critique and critical essays.

Antithesis and its Functions in Literary Texts

• Mahkamov Ziyodbek Master’s degree student of Namangan state university

This article is dedicated to the analysis of the antithesis, its usage in the texts, distinct meaning as well as structural and semantic classification based on the study of examples of literature. The principal role of the antithesis, as a stylistic figure, is to put forward concepts in a contrast. The article analyzed views of scientists on the lexical-semantic concepts of the antithesis and presented examples from literary works and reflected them in the article.

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Central Asian Journal of Literature, Philosophy and Culture

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