Transcript antithesis - Pre-IB Writing at Chapel

antithesis
Pronunciation
anˈtiθəsis
Definition
A rhetorical* device in which two ideas are
directly opposed. For a statement to be
truly antithetical, the opposing ideas must
be presented in a grammatically parallel
way, thus creating a perfect rhetorical
balance.
*rhetoric is the art of effective or persuasive writing or speaking,
especially the use of figures of speech.
Examples
That's one small step for [a] man; one
giant leap for mankind."
-- Neil Armstrong, Apollo 11 Moon Landing
Speech
As he said many times, in many parts of
this nation, to those he touched and who
sought to touch him: 'Some men see
things as they are and say why. I dream
things that never were and say why
not.'" -- Edward Kennedy, Eulogy for
Robert F. Kennedy
Note: In this case there are two different, successive antitheses.
We observe today not a victory of party
but a celebration of freedom,
symbolizing an end as well as a
beginning, signifying renewal as well as
change."
-- John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address
Can you find the antitheses?
"We find ourselves rich in goods but
ragged in spirit, reaching with magnificent
precision for the moon but falling into
raucous discord on earth. We are caught
in war, wanting peace. We're torn by
division, wanting unity.”
-- Richard M. Nixon, Inaugural Address
"We find ourselves rich in goods but
ragged in spirit, reaching with
magnificent precision for the moon but
falling into raucous discord on earth.
We are caught in war, wanting peace.
We're torn by division, wanting unity.”
Note: In this case there are four different, successive antitheses.
More examples:
"We must learn to live together as brothers
or perish together as fools.”
--(Martin Luther King, Jr., speech at St.
Louis, 1964)
"The more acute the experience, the less
articulate its expression.”
--(Harold Pinter)
The opening lines of Charles Dicken’s
Tale of Two Cities (1859) imply antithesis:
A
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,
it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of
foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the
epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it
was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of
hope, it was the winter of despair, we had
everything before us, we had nothing before us,
we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all
going direct the other way. . . .
This passage from John Lyly’s Euphues (1579)
relies heavily on antithesis:
“So likewise in the disposition of the mind, either
virtue is overshadowed with some vice or vice
overcast with some virtue: Alexander valiant in
war, yet given to wine; Tully eloquent in his glozes
[flattering or fine speeches], yet vainglorious;
Solomon wise, yet too too wanton; David holy, but
yet an
homicide; none more witty
than Euphues, yet at the first none more wicked.”
Former US president Ronald Reagan’s speeches made
frequent use of antithesis. In one speech contrasting
totalitarianism and freedom, two ideas that are themselves
antithetical, Reagan asked:
“Who would voluntarily choose not to have a right to vote,
decide to purchase government propaganda handouts instead
of independent newspapers,
prefer
government to worker-controlled unions,
opt for land to be owned by the state instead of those who till
it, want government repression of religious liberty, a single
political party instead of a free choice, a rigid cultural
orthodoxy instead of democratic tolerance and diversity?”
Activity
Write three antitheses of your own:
• One that shows the contrast between school days and
vacation days;
• one that distinguishes childhood from adolescence or
adulthood;
• and one that expresses the paradoxical nature of
something (for example, how a special holiday like
Christmas can be both wonderful and awful).
• Or, choose your own topic.
• You could try to capture your oppositions in one
sentence for each, or write more than one.
• Create a graphic that illustrates the antithetical nature
of one of your descriptions.
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/figures/anti
thesis.htm