📌 Antithesis
Definition:
Antithesis is a literary device that places two opposite ideas in parallel structure to emphasize contrast.
🔹 It often appears in the same sentence or phrase for dramatic effect.
Example:
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”
— Charles Dickens
- Here, Dickens contrasts two opposing conditions using parallel phrasing.
📌 Oxymoron
Definition:
An oxymoron combines two contradictory words placed side by side to create a striking expression.
Example:
“Deafening silence”
— Silence is quiet, so how can it be deafening? That contradiction is the point.
- It’s usually two or three words long.
📌 Juxtaposition
Definition:
Juxtaposition is the placement of two elements (ideas, characters, settings) side by side to highlight contrast or similarity.
Example:
A wealthy man dining in luxury while a homeless person begs outside the window.
- The contrast isn’t stated; it’s shown through placement and context.
🧠 Key Differences:
| Device | What it Compares | How It Works | Typical Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antithesis | Opposite ideas | Structured in parallel phrasing | Full sentence or clause |
| Oxymoron | Contradictory words | Side-by-side contradiction | 2–3 words |
| Juxtaposition | Ideas, characters, settings | Placed next to each other in a scene or text | Varies (can be extended) |
And there you go! Now go ahead and use antithesis in your CXC prep/ CSEC prep!
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