antithesis vs balance bleach

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The Almighty=The Antithesis=The Balance?

• Thread starter Keishin
• Start date Jun 23, 2016

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• Jun 23, 2016

Escaping the Wood in Vain

We also now know exactly how The Balance can serve to no-sell the abilities of the Schutzstaffeln The Deathdealing - Haschwalth becomes immune and undamaged and Askin vulnerable and badly poisoned The X-Axis - Lille's railgun shots get no-sold, but to be fair Antithesis would be much better here, as Uryu could simply trade the wounds The Miracle - Hasch probably wins after a lengthy battle of attrition. Again, Antithesis would probably be even better  

Saturnine said: We also now know exactly how The Balance can serve to no-sell the abilities of the Schutzstaffeln The Deathdealing - Haschwalth becomes immune and undamaged and Askin vulnerable and badly poisoned The X-Axis - Lille's railgun shots get no-sold, but to be fair Antithesis would be much better here, as Uryu could simply trade the wounds The Miracle - Hasch probably wins after a lengthy battle of attrition. Again, Antithesis would probably be even better Click to expand...

The Strawberry Carrot Top

Limit breaker omen.

Against people who go for the kill ishida's ability is useless. It's a cool ability and it'd be dangerous against anyone who play's around too much.  

Nighty the Mighty

I swim in outer space.

okay so almighty = essentially probability manipulation antithesis = essentially result manipulation antithesis is the hard counter to almighty, no matter what yhwach changes uryu's fate to he can just swap it back to him. on the other hand, uryu apparently has to activate it? so can yhwach not just blitz oneshot? he should have more than enough power, hell even almighty itself should probably be able to just do a oneshot, like break skulls instead of bankais senpai balance is a watered down almighty btw  

Revan Reborn

If it was passive I feel as though the damage would've happened to hw and he would've said something like what happened and ishida would've made a reply like that's my scrift in play or something like that so I think it has to be activated if it doesn't then I would say ishida is definitely stronger than ichigo and it might not be at the moment it be at eos too which saddens me.  

THE BLADE IS ME

Blade and soul as one.

Seems like a triangle thing now. AntiThesis>Almighty>Balance>Antithesis>Almighty>Balance. The balance counters the anti thesis because Hashwalth can one up uryu when it comes to reversing damage. However the anti thesis counters the almighty because whatever future Ywach jumps on in which he stomps uryu will litterally be be bale to reverse thier positions At the same time The Almighty counterers the balance. Because with Ywach there is no such thing as luck anymore , renderning the balance completely unnusable. And even if by some miracle luck still exists. Ywach will Always be able to pick a future in which the damage of balance wasn't redirected at him. As he can pick and choose the future he sees fit. It's quite genius really.  

Anti-thesis is anti-climactic If you can make a straight execution....what are you gonna do about it  

Millón Vasto said: Seems like a triangle thing now. AntiThesis>Almighty>Balance>Antithesis>Almighty>Balance. The balance counters the anti thesis because Hashwalth can one up uryu when it comes to reversing damage. However the anti thesis counters the almighty because whatever future Ywach jumps on in which he stomps uryu will litterally be be bale to reverse thier positions At the same time The Almighty counterers the balance. Because with Ywach there is no such thing as luck anymore , renderning the balance completely unnusable. And even if by some miracle luck still exists. Ywach will Always be able to pick a future in which the damage of balance wasn't redirected at him. As he can pick and choose the future he sees fit. It's quite genius really. Click to expand...

The Strawberry Carrot Top said: I agree with everything except ishida's A being above Yhwach's I personally think that unless it's passive it's not above the almighty. If it is passive then I agree with everything. If ishida has to activate it then yhwach could just end him in one move. No matter what time line they're in. Click to expand...

SonicTron said: Anti-thesis is anti-climactic If you can make a straight execution....what are you gonna do about it Click to expand...

Also it appears as though he has to activate every time he gets injured. If it's not similar to barro's intangiblity where it stays active once it's activated then it's even less impressive. Even if he can activate it quickly all it takes is a beyond lethal hit. It is a cool ability but it's not really impressive when you consider bloodlust. Or people who just automatically go for kill shots.  

Millón Vasto said: That's true, but speaking from a pure ability wise. It's really an triangle. The Anti-thesis reverses all events. Click to expand...

The Strawberry Carrot Top said: Also it appears as though he has to activate every time he gets injured. If it's not similar to barro's intangiblity where it stays active once it's activated then it's even less impressive. Even if he can activate it quickly all it takes is a beyond lethal hit. It is a cool ability but it's not really impressive when you consider bloodlust. Or people who just automatically go for kill shots. Click to expand...

It's his first time using it. Could be the strongest ability in bleach but won't mean much if his mastery of it sucks.  

She should theoretically be able to reverse events that have happened to heal or erase. Where as ishida reverses the damage dealt to him. I think they're similar in that they can reverse and change things.  

Any way we can all agree, that if u want to be hax in bleach. U better become a fucking quincy. It does make sense. in funny way all quincies are essentially closer related to the soul king then shinigami are. If Ywach and the soul king are god. then the quincies are angels. Since thier entire stick is reishi manipulation=matter. It would make sense for them combined with them bieng offspring of god in a sense to be able to have access to hax. Which is nothing more then tapping into the power to control the world like a god could through reishi.  

Millón Vasto said: True. but if all abilities were of the same level. And not hindered by the persons base stats or mastery of it. You'd have a 3 way stalemate beteen said abilities. Click to expand...

I'm hoping ichigo's quincy heritage is way more dominant than everything else. He's only used blut vein. I really don't care about his hollow and shinigami side compared to his quincy side. If he wants to be on their level he needs to be a quincy. And more importantly it would be nice to see things he acquired from his mom's side more.  

Tranquil Fury

The only thing i know.

All Mighty: Fate manipulation and future sight Balance: Luck manipulation Antithesis: Reversal Convenient counter schrifts.  

Tranquil Fury said: All Mighty: Fate manipulation and future sight Balance: Luck manipulation Antithesis: Reversal Convenient counter schrifts. Click to expand...

If it stays active you can but you'll execute yourself then ishida would just heal and it would be like nothing happened. Which means you'd be gg and he'd be the winner. I think potentially ishida's ability is the stronger of scrifts but at the moment I think it's The Almighty, The Balance, The Antithesis. With all of them on a somewhat similar level but that's the order I think things currently stand.  

Let's not forget the Antithesis works on any two entities Ishida chooses. He could crush a pebble into dust, use the schrift, then make Yhwach crushed and the pebble whole, lol Honestly though I thought Yhwach was insured against any Schrift he gives out by default, his Almighty should allow him to no-sell every and any inferior ability. Guess A is an exception for some reason, but we better get a good explanation. I know Yhwach said Uryu might have something even he doesn't have, but that was before he gave him the fucking letter. At any rate, if Uryu keeps his ability at the end of Bleach, he's gonna be one broken friend.  

Saturnine said: Let's not forget the Antithesis works on any two entities Ishida chooses. He could crush a pebble into dust, use the schrift, then make Yhwach crushed and the pebble whole, lol Honestly though I thought Yhwach was insured against any Schrift he gives out by default, his Almighty should allow him to no-sell every and any inferior ability. Guess A is an exception for some reason, but we better get a good explanation. I know Yhwach said Uryu might have something even he doesn't have, but that was before he gave him the fucking letter. At any rate, if Uryu keeps his ability at the end of Bleach, he's gonna be one broken friend. Click to expand...

Corax said: I have an impression that it is passive. If not Antithesis makes no sense,at least in comparison with Almighty. Almighty is passive,so should be Antithesis to counterbalance it. Or Hashwald is wrong and Kubo doesn't have any idea how to use Antithesis in the final battle with Bach. Click to expand...

Logic > You

Yep. Rock, paper, scissors it is with these three apparently.  

The Strawberry Carrot Top said: If it is then yeah he seems like the only one to be able to defeat yhwach and as much as I hate that it makes sense. Also aizen might be able to do something too. I hate saying that even more. Click to expand...

The Almighty vs The Balance vs The Antithesis

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Battle of abilities. Which one will win here?

What? "The Antithesis" sounds hax.

The chapter came out today.

As for the thread the cancel each other out.

@hatemalingsia : Can reverse anything that happens to two targets.....

Supposedly can counter the Almighty.

Seems haxed indeed.

Balance manipulates luck. Almighty manipulates the future and Antithesis manipulates what happens between two people.

They all are close to the same thing so....draw?

@justsomerandomkid : I see, not really what I thought it would be. I believe you, seems hax enough. Lol.

we should wait for now, we know very little about the balance and the antithesis and jugram can still go vollstandig, maybe ishida too.

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Yeah, Haschwalth and Ishida are about to play ping pong with their abilities before one of them loses. So the full scope of their power is yet to be seen.

Looks like this may end up 5 War Potentials/Ishida Vs Yhwach

I also feel like its a mistake for Yhwach to absorb ichigo quincy powers. That's probably gonna be his downfall somehow along with Ishida ability.

@omni_troll : From what we have seen jugram is going to kill uryu, someone need to save him, same for ichigo.

The Almighty for controlling the future > The Balance

The Antithesis for nullifying any incidents, events, flow of cause and effect = The Almighty

The Balance for better and more absolute combat prowess (not only is Haschwalt practically invincible but the enemy gets destroyed along the way also) > The Antithesis

The Almighty=The Antithesis

The Balance>The Antithesis

The Almighty>The Balance

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Bleach: Uryu Ishida's 10 Best Fight Scenes, Ranked

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10 Ways The Bleach Anime Has Aged Poorly

Bleach: thousand-year blood war is repeating tite kubo's biggest mistake, transformers' most unusual optimus prime figure yet will be made-to-order for over $4000.

Many classic shonen action titles hold up to this day, and one of them is Tite Kubo's hit series Bleach , which was once a part of Shonen Jump's "big three." In fact, the anime is returning next year, and longtime fans can see some of their favorite fights from the final arc animated at last.

RELATED: Bleach: 5 Things Ichigo Can Do That Uryu Cannot (& Vice Versa)

That will include Uryu Ishida , the Quincy archer who fights loyally by Ichigo's side. He is a crack shot with his bows and arrows, and he can also use traps and high-speed movement to get the edge on his foes. Uryu has gotten himself into many scraps, and these are his ten finest of all.

10 Uryu Vs Ryuken Ishida

This was really a training session, but it was an exciting scene all the same. Uryu had lost his Quincy powers fighting Mayuri Kurotsuchi, and he turned to his Quincy father for help. Ryuken reluctantly decided to aid his son, and escorted him to a training room.

The training was merciless, and Ryuken used a small but powerful Quincy bow to keep his son on his toes. Finally, Ryuken hit Uryu's heart just right to restart his Quincy powers, and Uryu was then ready to help Ichigo rescue Orihime in Hueco Mundo.

9 Uryu & Ichigo Vs Gillian

This was an early battle, and after a point, Uryu and Ichigo would be able to dispatch a foe like a Gillian-class Menos Grande without much trouble. But at the time, Uryu and Ichigo were much less powerful, and a titanic Gillain was a serious challenge right there in Karakura Town.

Neither fighter could handle that beast alone, so Uryu asked Ichigo to lend him his Soul Reaper powers, in order to augment his bow. The joint attack was successful, and the ever-so-resourceful Uryu injured the Gillian and drove it away. Rukia was quite impressed.

8 Uryu Vs Jirobo Ikkanzaka

All things considered, this was a pretty minor fight with few consequences. But it was impressive to see Uryu bravely go toe to toe with a powerful and arrogant (and huge) Soul Reaper like this, and he did it out of intense personal loyalty to Orihime .

RELATED: Bleach: 5 Times Uryu Was Wrong (& 5 Times He Was Smarter Than We Thought He Was)

Jirobo revealed his shikai, which creates a number of airborne projectiles that he can launch at his enemies. Uryu, meanwhile, retaliated with a flurry of arrows and destroyed his opponent's shikai, then targeted and destroyed Jirobo's spirit energy reserves to defeat him.

7 Uryu Vs Ulquiorra Schiffer

This was barely even a fight, but it showed the true extent of Uryu's grit and commitment to the fight, so it was fun to watch even if it was rather one-sided. Ichigo fought against and lost to a fully-released Ulquiorra , so Uryu took his turn to protect Orihime.

Despite losing a hand, Uryu kept fighting his powerful Espada enemy, and acted with unusual bloodlust and aggression the entire time. Uryu assured his opponent that he is indeed calm and rational, which allowed him to stay in the fight. Uryu didn't go down too easily.

6 Uryu Vs Iceringer

Hueco Mundo's entrance is guarded by two low-level Arrancars, one of them being Iceringer. Chad tried to fight him, but Iceringer was too quick, so Uryu took over the fight. Iceringer showed what he was capable of, and fired many projectiles with a technique called Una Tirotea.

RELATED: Bleach: The Espada, Ranked From Least to Most Evil

Like Jirobo, Iceringer learned to not challenge Uryu on his own terms. No one can beat Uryu when it comes to ranged attacks, and Uryu fired a whopping 1,200 arrows to surround and pummel Iceringer into submission. It was a good start to the Hueco Mundo mission, all right.

5 Uryu Vs Yammy

In his sealed state, Yammy Llargo is the weakest Espada, but he is still quite powerful. In the early stages of Ichigo's fight with Ulquiorra, Yammy burst onto the scene, and Uryu decided to hold him off and keep Ichigo's flank safe.

Uryu used his arrows and anti-Arrancar mines to push this mighty Espada back, and when Uryu blasted holes in the floor, Yammy fell many stories down, thus allowing Ichigo to fight Ulquiorra without interruption. That was some good work on Uryu's part.

4 Uryu Vs Cirucci Sanderwicci

This Arrancar is Cirucci, a former Espada with a lot to prove. She and her two fellows challenged Ichigo's team in their own lair of Las Noches, and Uryu had to find a way to deal with Cirucci and her yo-yo-like zanpakuto and her moth-like released state.

RELATED: Bleach: 10 Characters Who Should Inherit the Attack Titan

With the aid of Pesci the Arrancar, Uryu sent Cirucci toppling to the floor, then dueled her released form at a distance. He also used his Seeleschneider, a short sword that can cut an enemy's spirit energy and steal it. He defeated Circucci for good when his most powerful arrow beat Cirucci's strongest ranged attack. He had more reach.

3 Uryu & Renji Abarai Vs Szayelaporro Grantz

Once Uryu finished off Cirucci without killing her, he moved on to reinforce Renji, and went up against Szayelaporro Grantz , the scientist Espada. Uryu's powers were getting shut down and blocked, but he still found a way to help Renji injure this Espada.

Once Renji attacked Szayelaporro and held him in place, Uryu drew a star on the ground and set off a mighty detonation. Szayelaporro was forced to eat one of his fracciones to heal, then take a break from the battle to get changed. From then on, Uryu was on the back foot, but he refused to back down, like a true hero.

2 Uryu vs Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi

This was Uryu's biggest challenge in the Soul Society invasion. Although Uryu could handle 3rd-seat Soul Reapers with ease, a Captain is a whole different matter. He was on the defensive as soon as Mayuri Kurotsuchi attacked him, and even his Hirenkyaku could only do so much against this Captain.

But Uryu had conviction on his side, and he was risking it all to protect Orihime and avenge his grandfather Soken's gruesome death at Mayuri's hands some years earlier. Even when Captain Kurotsuchi used his massive bankai, Uryu used the full extent of his powers, and blasted that bankai and its user apart. Only barely did Captain Kurotsuchi escape.

1 Uryu Vs Jugram Haschwalth

Uryu appeared to be a total traitor when he joined the Sternritters and was appointed Yhwach's heir. But Uryu was truly loyal to his dear friends, and Jugram confronted him over it. The two Quincy soon duel, with Jugram's The Balance fighting Uryu's The Antithesis.

It was a bitter fight involving swords, bows and shields, and each warrior was capable of transferring injuries onto other parties. In the end, Jugram had his power drained by the Auswahlen, and he was swayed by Uryu's words of loyalty to his friends. Uryu had so impressed Jugram with his strength and conviction of friendship, Jugram allowed Uryu to become healed at his expense and urged the younger Quincy to protect those friends no matter what. Not even Yhwach's right-hand man can dissuade Uryu from walking alongside his real family.

NEXT: Naruto Vs. Bleach: Which Series is Better?

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Antithesis Definition

What is antithesis? Here’s a quick and simple definition:

Antithesis is a figure of speech that juxtaposes two contrasting or opposing ideas, usually within parallel grammatical structures. For instance, Neil Armstrong used antithesis when he stepped onto the surface of the moon in 1969 and said, "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind." This is an example of antithesis because the two halves of the sentence mirror each other in grammatical structure, while together the two halves emphasize the incredible contrast between the individual experience of taking an ordinary step, and the extraordinary progress that Armstrong's step symbolized for the human race.

Some additional key details about antithesis:

• Antithesis works best when it is used in conjunction with parallelism (successive phrases that use the same grammatical structure), since the repetition of structure makes the contrast of the content of the phrases as clear as possible.
• The word "antithesis" has another meaning, which is to describe something as being the opposite of another thing. For example, "love is the antithesis of selfishness." This guide focuses only on antithesis as a literary device.
• The word antithesis has its origins in the Greek word antithenai , meaning "to oppose." The plural of antithesis is antitheses.

How to Pronounce Antithesis

Here's how to pronounce antithesis: an- tith -uh-sis

Antithesis and Parallelism

Often, but not always, antithesis works in tandem with parallelism . In parallelism, two components of a sentence (or pair of sentences) mirror one another by repeating grammatical elements. The following is a good example of both antithesis and parallelism:

To err is human , to forgive divine .

The two clauses of the sentence are parallel because each starts off with an infinitive verb and ends with an adjective ("human" and "divine"). The mirroring of these elements then works to emphasize the contrast in their content, particularly in the very strong opposite contrast between "human" and "divine."

Antithesis Without Parallelism

In most cases, antitheses involve parallel elements of the sentence—whether a pair of nouns, verbs, adjectives, or other grammar elements. However, it is also possible to have antithesis without such clear cut parallelism. In the Temptations Song "My Girl," the singer uses antithesis when he says:

"When it's cold outside , I've got the month of May ."

Here the sentence is clearly cut into two clauses on either side of the comma, and the contrasting elements are clear enough. However, strictly speaking there isn't true parallelism here because "cold outside" and "month of May" are different types of grammatical structures (an adjective phrase and a noun phrase, respectively).

Antithesis vs. Related Terms

Three literary terms that are often mistakenly used in the place of antithesis are juxtaposition , oxymoron , and foil . Each of these three terms does have to do with establishing a relationship of difference between two ideas or characters in a text, but beyond that there are significant differences between them.

Antithesis vs. Juxtaposition

In juxtaposition , two things or ideas are placed next to one another to draw attention to their differences or similarities. In juxtaposition, the pairing of two ideas is therefore not necessarily done to create a relationship of opposition or contradiction between them, as is the case with antithesis. So, while antithesis could be a type of juxtaposition, juxtaposition is not always antithesis.

Antithesis vs. Oxymoron

In an oxymoron , two seemingly contradictory words are placed together because their unlikely combination reveals a deeper truth. Some examples of oxymorons include:

• Sweet sorrow
• Cruel kindness
• Living dead

The focus of antithesis is opposites rather than contradictions . While the words involved in oxymorons seem like they don't belong together (until you give them deeper thought), the words or ideas of antithesis do feel like they belong together even as they contrast as opposites. Further, antitheses seldom function by placing the two words or ideas right next to one another, so antitheses are usually made up of more than two words (as in, "I'd rather be among the living than among the dead").

Antithesis vs. Foil

Some Internet sources use "antithesis" to describe an author's decision to create two characters in a story that are direct opposites of one another—for instance, the protagonist and antagonist . But the correct term for this kind of opposition is a foil : a person or thing in a work of literature that contrasts with another thing in order to call attention to its qualities. While the sentence "the hare was fast, and the tortoise was slow" is an example of antithesis, if we step back and look at the story as a whole, the better term to describe the relationship between the characters of the tortoise and the hare is "foil," as in, "The character of the hare is a foil of the tortoise."

Antithesis Examples

Antithesis in literature.

Below are examples of antithesis from some of English literature's most acclaimed writers — and a comic book!

Antithesis in Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities

In the famous opening lines of A Tale of Two Cities , Dickens sets out a flowing list of antitheses punctuated by the repetition of the word "it was" at the beginning of each clause (which is itself an example of the figure of speech anaphora ). By building up this list of contrasts, Dickens sets the scene of the French Revolution that will serve as the setting of his tale by emphasizing the division and confusion of the era. The overwhelming accumulation of antitheses is also purposefully overdone; Dickens is using hyperbole to make fun of the "noisiest authorities" of the day and their exaggerated claims. The passage contains many examples of antithesis, each consisting of one pair of contrasting ideas that we've highlighted to make the structure clearer.

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 —in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.

Antithesis in John Milton's Paradise Lost

In this verse from Paradise Lost , Milton's anti-hero , Satan, claims he's happier as the king of Hell than he could ever have been as a servant in Heaven. He justifies his rebellion against God with this pithy phrase, and the antithesis drives home the double contrast between Hell and Heaven, and between ruling and serving.

Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven.

Antithesis in William Shakespeare's Othello

As the plot of Othello nears its climax , the antagonist of the play, Iago, pauses for a moment to acknowledge the significance of what is about to happen. Iago uses antithesis to contrast the two opposite potential outcomes of his villainous plot: either events will transpire in Iago's favor and he will come out on top, or his treachery will be discovered, ruining him.

This is the night That either makes me or fordoes me quite .

In this passage, the simple word "either" functions as a cue for the reader to expect some form of parallelism, because the "either" signals that a contrast between two things is coming.

Antithesis in William Shakespeare's Hamlet

Shakespeare's plays are full of antithesis, and so is Hamlet's most well-known "To be or not to be" soliloquy . This excerpt of the soliloquy is a good example of an antithesis that is not limited to a single word or short phrase. The first instance of antithesis here, where Hamlet announces the guiding question (" to be or not to be ") is followed by an elaboration of each idea ("to be" and "not to be") into metaphors that then form their own antithesis. Both instances of antithesis hinge on an " or " that divides the two contrasting options.

To be or not to be , that is the question: Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing end them ...

Antithesis in T.S. Eliot's "Four Quartets"

In this excerpt from his poem "Four Quartets," T.S. Eliot uses antithesis to describe the cycle of life, which is continuously passing from beginning to end, from rise to fall, and from old to new.

In my beginning is my end . In succession Houses rise and fall , crumble, are extended, Are removed, destroyed, restored, or in their place Is an open field, or a factory, or a by-pass. Old stone to new building , old timber to new fires ...

Antithesis in Green Lantern's Oath

Comic book writers know the power of antithesis too! In this catchy oath, Green Lantern uses antithesis to emphasize that his mission to defeat evil will endure no matter the conditions.

In brightest day , in blackest night , No evil shall escape my sight. Let those who worship evil's might Beware my power—Green lantern's light!

While most instances of antithesis are built around an "or" that signals the contrast between the two parts of the sentence, the Green Lantern oath works a bit differently. It's built around an implied "and" (to be technical, that first line of the oath is an asyndeton that replaces the "and" with a comma), because members of the Green Lantern corps are expressing their willingness to fight evil in all places, even very opposite environments.

Antithesis in Speeches

Many well-known speeches contain examples of antithesis. Speakers use antithesis to drive home the stakes of what they are saying, sometimes by contrasting two distinct visions of the future.

Antithesis in Patrick Henry's Speech to the Second Virginia Convention, 1775

This speech by famous American patriot Patrick Henry includes one of the most memorable and oft-quoted phrases from the era of the American Revolution. Here, Henry uses antithesis to emphasize just how highly he prizes liberty, and how deadly serious he is about his fight to achieve it.

Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take: but as for me, give me liberty or give me death .

Antithesis in Martin Luther King Jr.'s Oberlin Commencement Address

In this speech by one of America's most well-known orators, antithesis allows Martin Luther King Jr. to highlight the contrast between two visions of the future; in the first vision, humans rise above their differences to cooperate with one another, while in the other humanity is doomed by infighting and division.

We must all learn to live together as brothers —or we will all perish together as fools .

Antithesis in Songs

In songs, contrasting two opposite ideas using antithesis can heighten the dramatic tension of a difficult decision, or express the singer's intense emotion—but whatever the context, antithesis is a useful tool for songwriters mainly because opposites are always easy to remember, so lyrics that use antithesis tend to stick in the head.

Antithesis in "Should I Stay or Should I Go" by The Clash (1981)

In this song by The Clash, the speaker is caught at a crossroads between two choices, and antithesis serves as the perfect tool to express just how confused and conflicted he is. The rhetorical question —whether to stay or to go—presents two opposing options, and the contrast between his lover's mood from one day (when everything is "fine") to the next (when it's all "black") explains the difficulty of his choice.

One day it's fine and next it's black So if you want me off your back Well, come on and let me know Should I stay or should I go ? Should I stay or should I go now? Should I stay or should I go now? If I go, there will be trouble If I stay it will be double ...

Antithesis in "My Girl" by the Temptations (1965)

In this song, the singer uses a pair of metaphors to describe the feeling of joy that his lover brings him. This joy is expressed through antithesis, since the singer uses the miserable weather of a cloudy, cold day as the setting for the sunshine-filled month of May that "his girl" makes him feel inside, emphasizing the power of his emotions by contrasting them with the bleak weather.

I've got sunshine on a cloudy day When it's cold outside I've got the month of May Well I guess you'd say, What can make me feel this way? My girl, my girl, my girl Talkin' bout my girl.

Why Do Writers Use Antithesis?

Fundamentally, writers of all types use antithesis for its ability to create a clear contrast. This contrast can serve a number of purposes, as shown in the examples above. It can:

• Present a stark choice between two alternatives.
• Convey magnitude or range (i.e. "in brightest day, in darkest night" or "from the highest mountain, to the deepest valley").
• Express strong emotions.
• Create a relationship of opposition between two separate ideas.
• Accentuate the qualities and characteristics of one thing by placing it in opposition to another.

Whatever the case, antithesis almost always has the added benefit of making language more memorable to listeners and readers. The use of parallelism and other simple grammatical constructions like "either/or" help to establish opposition between concepts—and opposites have a way of sticking in the memory.

Other Helpful Antithesis Resources

• The Wikipedia page on Antithesis : A useful summary with associated examples, along with an extensive account of antithesis in the Gospel of Matthew.
• Sound bites from history : A list of examples of antithesis in famous political speeches from United States history — with audio clips!
• A blog post on antithesis : This quick rundown of antithesis focuses on a quote you may know from Muhammad Ali's philosophy of boxing: "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee."

• Climax (Figure of Speech)
• Figure of Speech
• Juxtaposition
• Parallelism
• Protagonist
• Rhetorical Question
• Falling Action
• Red Herring
• Connotation
• Point of View
• Formal Verse
• Static Character
• Extended Metaphor
• Onomatopoeia

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Definition of Antithesis

Examples of antithesis in everyday speech, common examples of antithesis from famous speeches, examples of proverbs featuring antithesis, utilizing antithesis in writing, antithesis and parallelism, antithesis and juxtaposition, use of antithesis in sentences  , examples of antithesis in literature.

Antithesis is an effective literary device and figure of speech in which a writer intentionally juxtaposes two contrasting ideas or entities. Antithesis is typically achieved through parallel structure, in which opposing concepts or elements are paired in adjacent phrases , clauses , or sentences. This draws the reader’s attention to the significance or importance of the agents being contrasted, thereby adding a memorable and meaningful quality to the literary work.

Example 1:  Hamlet (William Shakespeare)

Give every man thine ear, but few thy voice ; Take each man’s censure, but reserve thy judgment.

Example 2:  Paradise Lost  (John Milton)

Here at least We shall be free; the Almighty hath not built Here for his envy, will not drive us hence: Here we may reign secure, and in my choice To reign is worth ambition though in Hell: Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heaven.

Example 3:  Fire and Ice  (Robert Frost)

Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice. From what I’ve tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire. But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate To say that for destruction ice Is also great And would suffice.

In his poem, Frost utilizes antithesis to contrast fire and ice as elements with devastating and catastrophic potential to end the world. Frost effectively demonstrates the equal powers for the destruction of these elements, despite showcasing them as opposing forces. In this case, the poet’s antithesis has a literal as well as figurative interpretation. As the poem indicates, the world could literally end in the fire as well as ice. However, fire and ice are contrasting symbols in the poem as well. Fire represents “desire,” most likely in the form of greed, the corruption of power, domination, and control. Conversely, ice represents “hate” in the form of prejudice, oppression, neglect, and isolation.

Example 4: The Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln

We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives so that nation might live.

The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.

The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.

Function of Antithesis

Synonyms of antithesis, post navigation.

What is Antithesis? Examples of Antithesis in Literature and Speech

Antithesis is a rhetorical device that has been used for centuries to create contrast and emphasize ideas in speech and writing. It involves placing two contrasting ideas side by side, often using parallel grammatical structures, to highlight their differences. This technique can be used for various purposes, such as to create emphasis, create balance, or to make a point.

Table of Contents

Definition of Antithesis

Antithesis is a literary device that involves contrasting two opposing ideas or concepts in a sentence or passage in order to create a dramatic or rhetorical effect. The word “antithesis” comes from the Greek word “antithenai,” which means “to oppose.”

Antithesis can be used in a variety of ways, including through contrasting words, phrases, or clauses. This technique is often used in poetry, prose, and speeches to create a sense of tension and to emphasize the differences between two ideas.

In antithesis, two contrasting ideas are placed side by side in order to highlight their differences. This technique is often used to create a sense of balance in a sentence or passage. For example, consider the following sentence: “To be or not to be, that is the question.” In this sentence, the opposing ideas of existence and non-existence are contrasted in order to create a sense of tension and to emphasize the importance of the decision at hand.

Examples of Antithesis

Antithesis is a literary device that involves the use of contrasting ideas, words, or phrases in a parallel structure. Here are some examples of antithesis in literature, speeches, and advertising.

Antithesis in Literature

Antithesis is commonly used in literature to highlight the contrast between two opposing ideas or themes. One of the most famous examples of antithesis in literature is found in Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities . The opening lines of the novel read:

“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 – in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.”

The contrasting ideas of “best” and “worst,” “wisdom” and “foolishness,” “belief” and “incredulity,” and others are used to emphasize the stark differences between the two cities.

Antithesis in Speeches

Antithesis is also commonly used in speeches to create a memorable impact on the audience. One of the most famous examples of antithesis in a speech is from Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech:

“We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”

The contrasting ideas of “live together” and “perish together” are used to emphasize the importance of unity and brotherhood.

Antithesis in Advertising

Antithesis is also used in advertising to create memorable slogans and taglines. One example is the slogan for the car company BMW:

“The ultimate driving machine.”

The contrasting ideas of “ultimate” and “driving machine” are used to emphasize the high quality and performance of BMW cars.

In conclusion, antithesis is a powerful literary device that can be used in a variety of contexts to create memorable and impactful statements.

Antithesis vs. Juxtaposition

Antithesis and juxtaposition are two rhetorical devices that are often used in literature and speech. While they may seem similar, there are distinct differences between the two.

Antithesis is a rhetorical device that involves placing two contrasting ideas side by side in a sentence or phrase. The purpose of antithesis is to create a stark contrast between the two ideas, often to emphasize a point or to create a sense of tension or conflict.

For example, one famous example of antithesis comes from Charles Dickens’ “A Tale of Two Cities”: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” This sentence contrasts two opposing ideas, highlighting the extreme differences between them.

Antithesis is often used in speeches and persuasive writing to create a memorable and impactful statement. However, it can also be used in more subtle ways to add depth and complexity to a piece of writing.

Juxtaposition

Juxtaposition, on the other hand, involves placing two ideas or objects next to each other in order to highlight their differences or similarities. Unlike antithesis, the two ideas or objects may not necessarily be opposing or contrasting.

For example, a writer might use juxtaposition to describe two characters in a story. By placing their descriptions side by side, the writer can highlight their differences and create a more vivid picture of each character.

Juxtaposition can also be used to create irony or humor. By placing two unlikely ideas or objects next to each other, a writer can create a sense of surprise or amusement.

In conclusion, while antithesis and juxtaposition are both rhetorical devices that involve placing two ideas or objects next to each other, they serve different purposes. Antithesis is used to create a contrast or conflict between two opposing ideas, while juxtaposition is used to highlight the differences or similarities between two ideas or objects.

Antithesis in Communication

Antithesis is a powerful tool in communication that can be used to emphasize contrast, create memorable phrases, and strengthen arguments. By juxtaposing two opposing ideas, antithesis can help to clarify and highlight the differences between them, making them more easily understood and remembered. In this section, we will explore the importance of antithesis in communication and how it can be used effectively.

Emphasizing Contrast

One of the primary functions of antithesis is to emphasize contrast. By placing two opposing ideas side by side, antithesis can draw attention to their differences and make them more apparent. This can be especially useful in situations where it is important to distinguish between two similar but distinct concepts. For example, in political discourse, antithesis can be used to highlight the differences between two competing policy proposals or ideologies.

Creating Memorable Phrases

Another important function of antithesis is to create memorable phrases. By using contrasting ideas in a sentence or phrase, antithesis can create a sense of balance and rhythm that can make the words more memorable. This can be seen in famous quotes such as “To be or not to be” from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, which uses antithesis to create a memorable phrase that encapsulates the play’s central theme.

Strengthening Arguments

Finally, antithesis can be used to strengthen arguments. By using contrasting ideas, antithesis can help to make an argument more persuasive by highlighting the strengths of one idea while pointing out the weaknesses of another. This can be especially useful in situations where it is important to make a convincing case, such as in a legal argument or a political debate.

In conclusion, antithesis is an important tool in communication that can be used to emphasize contrast, create memorable phrases, and strengthen arguments. By using contrasting ideas, antithesis can help to clarify and highlight the differences between two concepts, making them more easily understood and remembered. Whether in literature, politics, or everyday conversation, antithesis can be a powerful tool for effective communication.

Overall, antithesis is a valuable tool for writers and speakers who want to create a sense of contrast and emphasize their point. When used effectively, it can make writing or speech more memorable and impactful. However, it is important to use it in moderation and not rely on it too heavily. By understanding how to use antithesis effectively, writers and speakers can take their communication skills to the next level.

Related Links

• Verbal Irony

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