Antithesis

A contrast between opposing ideas, often expressed through a balanced structure.

The contrasting of opposing ideas in a balanced phrase or sentence.

The balanced opposition of “love” and “hate” is antithesis: contrasting ideas are placed in parallel wording. While Romeo’s earlier oxymorons compress contradictions into phrases, Juliet’s antithesis sets her personal affection against her inherited hostility. “Sprung” presents affection as something that has grown unexpectedly out of hostile ground.

A contrast between ideas, often expressed through balanced words or phrases.

A contrast between opposing ideas, often expressed through balanced wording, such as Juliet's opposition of love and hate.

A contrast between two ideas expressed in a balanced structure, such as Beatrice’s opposition between being a man and dying a woman.

A contrast between opposing ideas, often expressed through balanced phrases.

A contrast between opposing ideas, often expressed through a balanced grammatical structure.

A balanced contrast between opposing ideas, often expressed through a parallel grammatical structure.

The placing of contrasting ideas in a balanced expression, often to make an argument appear clear and decisive.

The placing of contrasting ideas together, often in balanced phrases, to emphasise their opposition.

The placing of contrasting ideas together, often in balanced grammatical structures.

A contrast between opposing ideas, often expressed through balanced wording.

The placing of contrasting ideas together, often in a balanced grammatical structure.

A contrast between opposing ideas, often expressed through a balanced structure, such as Jekyll’s contrast between “one” and “two”.

A contrast between ideas expressed through opposing words or balanced phrases.

A contrast between ideas placed together, often in a balanced sentence, which makes their opposition more striking.

A contrast between opposing ideas, often expressed through a balanced sentence pattern.

The placing of contrasting ideas or words together to emphasise their opposition.

The antithesis between “Nought” and “all” turns their success into a total loss. The next line rhymes “spent” with “content”, giving the reflection a compact, conclusive shape. She speaks before Macbeth enters, allowing the audience to hear unhappiness she then tries to manage in him.

A contrast between opposing ideas, often expressed in a balanced phrase or sentence.

A contrast between opposing ideas, often expressed through balanced language.

A contrast between ideas, often expressed through a balanced arrangement of words or phrases.

A contrast between opposing ideas, often expressed through balanced wording.

A sharply contrasting pair of ideas, often placed close together to emphasise their difference.

The antithesis contrasts an economic category, “cheap labour”, with human identity, “people”. The dash creates a forceful correction: workers should not be valued only for how little they cost an employer. The plural “girls” widens her concern beyond Eva to other women in similar circumstances.

A contrast between ideas, characters or expressions that helps reveal their differences.

A balanced arrangement of contrasting words or ideas, such as Estella’s pairing of praise with blame and success with failure.

Contrasting ideas expressed in a balanced pattern. Magwitch’s opposition between living “rough” and living “smooth” emphasises his sacrifice for Pip.

A contrast between ideas expressed in a balanced form, such as Darcy’s distinction between selfishness ‘in practice’ and good intentions ‘in principle’.

A contrast between ideas expressed through opposing words or phrases.

A contrast between opposing ideas, often expressed through balanced wording.

The antithesis between ‘hearts’ and ‘eyes’ distinguishes deep affection from attraction to appearances. This is the Friar's judgement, prompted by Romeo abandoning Rosaline; it offers a cautionary perspective alongside the lovers' shared language.

The placing of contrasting ideas together, often in balanced phrases or clauses.

A contrast between ideas, often expressed through a balanced sentence structure.

The placing of contrasting ideas together to emphasise their difference.

A balanced contrast between opposing ideas, such as joy and sorrow.

The placing of contrasting ideas or images together to emphasise their opposition.

The placing of contrasting ideas in a balanced structure, making their opposition clear.

A deliberate contrast between ideas or descriptions, such as Jane’s movement from an ‘ardent’ woman to a ‘cold’ girl.

The placement of contrasting ideas in a balanced expression, such as praise and blame.

The use of contrasting ideas in a balanced expression, such as Magwitch’s opposition between living ‘rough’ and living ‘smooth’.

A contrast between opposing ideas expressed in a balanced structure, such as the creature being the slave rather than the master of an impulse.

A contrast between ideas, words or characters, such as the creature’s goodness and his later violence.

The placing of contrasting ideas together, such as ‘dark and bright’, to emphasise their relationship.

The placing of contrasting ideas together, often in a matching grammatical structure.

The placing of contrasting ideas together to emphasise their opposition, as in ‘my shame, my pride’.

A contrast between opposing ideas, often expressed through balanced wording.

A contrast between ideas, often expressed through balanced wording.

The use of contrasting ideas in a balanced arrangement of words.

A contrast between opposing words or ideas within a phrase or passage.

Definition

How each exam board covers it

AQA GCSE English Literature · 8702

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Edexcel GCSE English Literature · 1ET0

OCR GCSE English Literature · J352

Eduqas GCSE English Literature · C720

Definition

How each exam board covers it

AQA GCSE English Literature · 8702

Related key terms

Get more free notes every week

Edexcel GCSE English Literature · 1ET0

OCR GCSE English Literature · J352

Eduqas GCSE English Literature · C720