Antithesis

Antithesis

There is opposition or contrast between two like phrases. In other terms, the phrases which have parallelism are written in contrast. These phrases have similar structure (syntax) but there is contrast too.

From Pope's Epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot,

Willing to wound, yet afraid to strike.

From Pope's The Rape of lock,

Resolved to win, he meditates the way,

By force to ravish, or by fraud betray.

From prose fiction of Samuel Johnson's Rasselas,

"Marriage has many pains, but celibacy has no pleasures."

Explanation:

Let's understand this term. Antithesis comprises of 2 words- Anti+ Thesis.

Anti- Opposite

Thesis- Idea.

There will be two statements or ideas but they would be exactly opposite to each other.

e.g. God made the country, man made the town.

Man proposes, God disposes.