Which device uses contrast to highlight opposing ideas in parallel phrases?

• A. Paradox
• B. Irony
• C. Metaphor
• D. Antithesis

Answer: (D)

Antithesis is a device that highlights opposing ideas by placing them in parallel grammatical structures. The balance and symmetry of two contrasting ideas in matched phrases make the contrast clearer and more memorable. A classic example is “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,” where the same rhythm frames two opposing notions, sharpening the tension between them.

That exact pattern—opposites presented in parallel form—is what this item describes. Paradox involves a statement that seems self-contradictory yet reveals truth, and isn’t limited to parallel phrasing. Irony centers on a gap between expectation and outcome or between appearance and reality, not specifically on paired, opposing ideas. Metaphor is a direct comparison between unlike things, not a contrast of opposing ideas in parallel structure.