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Antithesis

Device
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A rhetorical contrast placing opposing ideas, words, or images in close proximity to highlight their differences for emphasis or effect.

Detailed Definition
Antithesis is a rhetorical contrast of ideas through parallel grammatical structures, juxtaposing opposites to heighten tension or clarify meaning; in poetry, it sharpens thematic dichotomies (e.g., “To err is human; to forgive, divine”) and often underpins metaphysical conceits or moral reflections.
Example
Example in poetry:
“To err is human; to forgive, divine” contrasts fallibility and grace; “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” juxtaposes extremes; “Hope springs eternal in the human breast: / Man never is, but always to be blest” opposes aspiration and reality; “Love is an ideal thing, marriage a real thing” (Goethe) sets ideal against practice; “The world is too much with us; late and soon” contrasts nature and materialism.
Additional Notes
Antithesis juxtaposes contrasting ideas in balanced phrases or clauses (e.g., “To err is human; to forgive, divine”); it sharpens argument, highlights conflict, and is central to neoclassical and metaphysical poetry.
Other Meanings of “Antithesis”
Also Known As
Contrast Opposition Counterstatement Balanced opposition antithetical phrase
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