Antithesis

1. To juxtapose two different ideas

This type of antithesis is commonly used alongside parallelism.

Writers are able to use the two devices together to pair opposite objects together in their sentences. When antithesis and parallelism are used at the same time, this creates rhythm. An example of antithesis being used alongside parallelism is seen in the song 'Hello Goodbye' (1967) by The Beatles:

The phrase 'You say yes' is mirrored in the second half of the sentence, 'I say no'. There are also two forms of antithesis in this sentence, 'you' is the antithesis of 'I' and 'yes' is the antithesis of 'no'. By using antithesis, the singer is showing how different he is to the other person.

2. To describe one thing as the opposite of another

Another way to use antithesis is as a way to describe one thing as the opposite of the other. When antithesis is used this way it is meant to create a contrast between two objects. Sometimes, this will be done by using the word 'antithesis' itself in the sentence, this can be seen below,

Here, the word 'antithesis' is used to imply that the person is the opposite of a good friend.

Antithesis: examples

Examples of antithesis can be found across media, including literature – from poems and songs to novels and our everyday speech.

Figures of speech

Figures of speech are phrases that are used in a non-literal sense for effect and we use them in our everyday speech.

Antithesis is used frequently in figures of speech to provide a reason for something. Below are two examples of figures of speech that use antithesis.

We know that these figures of speech use antithesis as they use objects that are the opposite of each other. In the first example, 'come' is the opposite of 'go' as the former is to enter into something, while the latter is to leave. From this, we know that the figure of speech is being used to mean that if something comes easily, it will also leave easily.

The second example is similar to the first one, as we can infer what the figure of speech means. The word 'junk' (or rubbish) is the opposite of 'treasure'. This means that the figure of speech is saying that what is rubbish to one man, will be treasured by another.

Plays

Some of the most famous phrases that use antithesis come from plays. This is frequently noted in the plays of William Shakespeare, who used antithesis as a dramatic device when writing his works. Antithesis can be used in plays to show the differences between characters and their motivations, as well as to show a character's inner strife. One of the most well-known examples of this is seen in Shakespeare's play Hamlet (1603)

Here, Shakespeare uses antithesis to show that Hamlet is asking himself an important question; 'to live, or to die?'. The presence of antithesis may be harder to see here than in modern writing. However, the use of the word 'not' shows that the device is being used. Shakespeare contrasts the phrase 'to be' with 'not to be', showing that the character is questioning his own mortality. Antithesis is used at a crucial point in this play to relay to the audience Hamlet's internal conflict.

Poems

Antithesis can also be frequently found in poetry. Antithesis is commonly seen alongside parallelism when it is used in poetry. It is effective when used in poetry as an antithesis can be used to reinforce rhythm in the poem. It can also contribute to the overall lyrical quality of the poem. An example of antithesis in poetry can be found in 'Fire and Ice' (1920) by Robert Frost.

'Fire' is hot and is, therefore, the antithesis of 'ice' which is cold. However, there is a second antithesis that is also present in the poem. The poem centres around ways the world may end, and so, 'fire' and 'ice' also are used as symbols for different causes of the earth's destruction. 'Fire' is a metaphor for greed, while 'ice' is a metaphor for hate or bigotry. Therefore, Frost uses antithesis for both the elements and what they represent.

Novels

Antithesis is also used commonly in novels. Here, an antithesis can be used to set up conflicts between characters, themes or settings in the novel. Antithesis can also be used to draw the reader's attention to a certain word or phrase. This will make it more memorable, especially if it is a theme that will be used throughout the novel. One of the most well-known examples of antithesis in literature is seen in Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities (1859).

This is an example of parallelism and antithesis being used at the same time as the sentence mirrors itself. If the sentence is divided in two at the comma, it can be seen that the two halves are the same, except for the words 'best' and 'worst'. From this, the reader can gather that in the city, some people had a good time, while others did not. This sets up a conflict that is at the heart of the novel.

Antithesis: the use of and effect

When used correctly antithesis can be an extremely effective device. Antithesis can be used to show how vastly different two things are, as it places the objects side by side for comparison. This is particularly effective in persuasive writing such as a speech or argument. In persuasive writing, antithesis is also a useful device as it can highlight why what you are arguing for is better than what you are arguing against.

Antithesis is also effective when used in poems and novels. If anthesis is used as a literary device it can help create a rhythm throughout the poem. This is especially effective when used alongside parallelism. Antithesis can be used to create a lyrical effect on the writing, making it sound more musical. This is effective as it helps make writing more memorable.