Antithesis

Antithesis is a literary term for two sharply contrasting yet otherwise balanced words, phrases, sentences, or paragraphs.



Definition of the Term
Antithesis is defined, literally, as the following :

n. pl. an·tith·e·ses (-sz) 1. Direct contrast; opposition. 2. The direct or exact opposite: Hope is the antithesis of despair. 3. a. A figure of speech in which sharply contrasting ideas are juxtaposed in a balanced or parallel phrase or grammatical structure, as in "Hee for God only,  shee for God in him" (John Milton). b. The second and contrasting part of such a juxtaposition. 4. The second stage of the Hegelian dialectic process, representing the opposite of the thesis.