Paradox
Paradox: A statement that appears self-contradictory but contains an underlying truth.
A paradox stops the reader cold: the sentence cannot be true, and then, slowly, it can. Writers use it to force a second, deeper reading of an idea.
Paradox examples
"I must be cruel, only to be kind."
— Hamlet, Shakespeare
"The Child is father of the Man."
— My Heart Leaps Up, William Wordsworth
"A pilot who asks to be grounded for insanity proves, by asking, that he is sane enough to fly."
— Catch-22, Joseph Heller
"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."
— Animal Farm, George Orwell
Spot the Paradox
Score: 0/0A statement that appears self-contradictory but contains an underlying truth.
"I must be cruel, only to be kind."
Which work is this from?
Explore every literary device in the poetic devices hub.
Paradox: common questions
What is paradox in literature?
A statement that appears self-contradictory but contains an underlying truth. A paradox stops the reader cold: the sentence cannot be true, and then, slowly, it can. Writers use it to force a second, deeper reading of an idea.
What is an example of paradox?
A classic example is "I must be cruel, only to be kind." (Hamlet, Shakespeare).
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