March 9

AGENDA:

1.  Paradox vs Antithesis + examples

HW: Vocabulary Friday - all new + new literary terms on this weeks quiz

ANTITHESIS

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times - Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
ï  Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heav’n. in Paradise Lost by John Milton
ï  To err is human; to forgive divine. - An Essay on Criticism by Alexander Pope

ï  Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice. - Hamlet by William Shakespeare

• “That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” - Neil Armstrong
• "We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools." - Martin Luther King, Jr.
• “Unlike short-sighted, egocentric humans, God "sees with equal eye" the fall of a hero and a sparrow, the destruction of an atom or a solar system.” - Alexander Pope.
• "The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here." - Abraham Lincoln - The Gettysburg Address
• "I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dryrot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time." - Jack London
• "Love is an ideal thing, marriage a real thing." - Goethe
• “Patience is bitter, but it has a sweet fruit.” - Aristotle
• “Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful.” - Samuel Johnson
• “Folks who have no vices have very few virtues.” - Abraham Lincoln
• "All the joy the world contains Has come through wishing happiness for others. All the misery the world contains Has come through wanting pleasure for oneself." - Shantideva

Antithesis can be used in many different contexts; but, the common thread is that it contains two contrasting ideas.

Antithesis, literal meaning opposite, is a rhetorical device in which two opposite ideas are put together in a sentence to achieve a contrasting effect.

Antithesis emphasizes the idea of contrast by parallel structures of the contrasted phrases or clauses, i.e. the structures of phrases and clauses are similar in order to draw the attention of the listeners or readers. For example:

“Setting foot on the moon may be a small step for a man but a giant step for mankind.”

The use of contrasting ideas, “a small step” and “a giant step”, in the sentence above emphasizes the significance of one of the biggest landmarks of human history. 

PARADOX

Paradox can prove to be very revealing about human nature and the way that we speak. If someone says to you "I'm a compulsive liar," do you believe them or not? That statement in itself is a paradox, because it is self contradictory, which is precisely what a paradox is.

At the most basic level, a paradox is a statement that is self contradictory because it often contains two statements that are both true, but in general, cannot both be true at the same time. In the aforementioned example, can someone be both a compulsive liar yet telling the truth at the same time?

Paradox Concept: Starts with Shrimp

Starting with some very basic examples of paradox will lead to the examination of how and why paradox is used in literature.

One of the most well known examples that teachers frequently use to introduce the idea of a paradox is a "jumbo shrimp." Certainly, "jumbo" and "shrimp" are contradictory statements. However, that is merely an introductory example, since a shrimp can certainly be jumbo sized in comparison to other smaller shrimp. Still, it is an appropriate starting point for students who are new to the concept of paradox.

Here are some more examples of paradox in simple forms in order to further define the term "paradox":

• You can save money by spending it.
• I'm nobody.
• "What a pity that youth must be wasted on the young." - George Bernard Shaw
• Wise fool
• Bittersweet
• "I can resist anything but temptation."-Oscar Wilde
• I'm a compulsive liar- am I lying when I say that?
• A rich man is no richer than a poor man.
• Nobody goes to that restaurant because it is too crowded.
• You shouldn't go in the water until you know how to swim.
• If you didn't get this message, call me.
• The person who wrote something so stupid can't write at all
• Men work together whether they work together or apart. - Robert Frost
• Be cruel to be kind
• The beginning of the end
• Drowning in the fountain of eternal life
• Deep down, you're really shallow.

Paradox in Literature

Have a better idea of what a paradox is now? Let's continue on to some larger examples of paradox that appear in works of literature. In doing so, examining their purpose will become an important part of the process.

In George Orwell's Animal Farm, the words "All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others" are part of the cardinal rules. Clearly this statement does not make logical sense. However, the point of a paradox is to point out a truth, even if the statements contradict each other.

Orwell is trying to make some sort of political statement here. Perhaps it is that the government claims that everyone is equal when that is clearly false, or perhaps it is that individuals have skewed perceptions of what it means to be equal. The interpretation is up to the reader to decide.

In Shakespeare's Hamlet, the title character states "I must be cruel to be kind." On the surface, once again, this statement does not seem to make much sense. Can an individual convey kindness through evil?

However, Hamlet is speaking about his mother, and how he plans to ultimately slay Claudius in order to avenge his father's death. His mother is now married to Claudius, so of course this will be a tragedy for her. However, he does not want his mother to be the lover of his father's murderer (unbeknownst to her) any longer, and so he believes the murder will be for her own good.

Purpose of Paradox

After examining the examples from works of literature, one will see that a paradox is not just a witty or amusing statement. Paradoxes have serious implications in the world of literature, because they make statements that often sum up the the main ideas of the work.

What is the purpose of using such a statement then, instead of just forthrightly stating the work's intent?

One reason is that to do so would be boring. It is much more interesting for a reader to carve out the meaning, than to have it fed to them on a silver platter.

Furthermore, summing up the totality of the work in one statement is more memorable. "I must be cruel to be kind" is a famous statement that has transcended history, whether or not people know where the words originally came from.

The term Paradox is from the Greek word “paradoxon” that means contrary to expectations, existing belief or perceived opinion. It is a statement that appears to be self-contradictory or silly but may include a latent truth. It is also used to illustrate an opinion or statement contrary to accepted traditional ideas. A paradox is often used to make a reader think over an idea in innovative way.