Antithesis
Pronounced an-TITH-uh-sis.
Antithesis: Placing two opposite ideas in balanced, parallel phrasing to sharpen the contrast.
Antithesis mounts two opposites on the same grammatical frame so the reader weighs them in one motion - the seesaw shape makes the contrast feel decisive.
Antithesis examples
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times."
— A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens
"That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."
— Neil Armstrong, 1969
"To err is human, to forgive, divine."
— An Essay on Criticism, Alexander Pope
"Give me liberty, or give me death!"
— Patrick Henry, 1775
Spot the Antithesis
Score: 0/0Placing two opposite ideas in balanced, parallel phrasing to sharpen the contrast.
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times."
Which work is this from?
Explore every literary device in the poetic devices hub.
Antithesis: common questions
What is antithesis in literature?
Placing two opposite ideas in balanced, parallel phrasing to sharpen the contrast. Antithesis mounts two opposites on the same grammatical frame so the reader weighs them in one motion - the seesaw shape makes the contrast feel decisive.
What is an example of antithesis?
A classic example is "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." (A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens).
Browse the full literary devices glossary or everywriting tool and word bank.
The writer's edit
One practical writing tip, a new tool, and a fresh contest deadline, every Thursday. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.