Antithesis and opposition

Antithesis is a rhetorical device used to create dissonance between 2 opposite ideas. Often, the gap is so cataclysmic that it paints a clearer picture of an event, person or object. In fact, many classic, modern and just about any type of text uses at least one example of opposition to further their point.

The literal techniques are great ways of amping up the action in a text, as well as getting in the audience’s head to show them the exact description of something with tangible comparisons. In this blog post, we’ll cover some examples, uses and just about anything else you need to know about antithesis and opposition.

What is antithesis?

A good way of introducing a rhythmic and vivid comparison, juxtaposing two opposing ideas in your writing is a strong technique – and there’s plenty of ways to do it. Intriguing comparisons hook in the reader, as they are placed smack-bang into the middle of the action, and can even make claims much more convincing.

The two main aspects of antithesis revolve around contrast and parallel structure. Obviously, the bigger the difference between two concepts, the more hard-hitting the effect of pitting them against each other.

Why would you use antithesis?

Perhaps the strongest usage of antithesis is the contrast created between ideas, whether they’re implied opposites or totally different concepts. As well as this, it can work well at throwing the reader off from a steady pace as they spend more time envisioning this opposing imagery, letting them spend more time mulling over complex comparisons.

Of course, antithesis is a literary device, so it is used for a wide variety of reasons in many different genres of writing. As well as this, the marketing world also makes good use of antithesis to stress the importance or value of their goods or services.

Famous examples

Aside from oft-repeated examples like ‘hot and cold’, ‘light and dark’ or others, a lot of examples of antithesis and opposition can be found just about anywhere! Shakespeare had some good examples, like ‘fair is foul, and foul is fair’ from the witches in Macbeth, or ‘to be, or not to be’ from Hamlet which turn pretty short and sweet sentences into musings on life, death and similar concepts.

Even the astronauts were at it – with a famous example of antithesis being the words uttered after Neil Armstrong stepped foot on the moon. ‘One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind’ juxtaposes the act of walking against the sheer amount of possibilities. It was quite literally out of this world!

Writer beware

Antithesis is often conflated with other related literary terms, and though they all do their own thing towards creating a vivid set of imagery, they do differ. For example, juxtaposition is often closely conflated with antithesis – and they are quite similar, as juxtaposition refers to placing two objects side-by-side to highlight differences – but ultimately, antithesis is a form of juxtaposition.

Antithesis has a narrower focus than juxtaposition, and will usually focus on direct opposites, whereas juxtaposition can use any differences (even slight ones) to achieve its effect. Additionally, with antithesis, usually these opposing ideas are presented in a parallel structure – which differs from general parallelism and its focus on using similar phrases, words, structures or other elements to reiterate similar ideas.

The beginning of the end…

This blog post was all about antithesis and opposition – the literature techniques based around differences and contrast. Using them are good ways of highlighting big chasms between ideas, making your points more effective!