Which line illustrates the technique of contrasting ideas in balanced phrases, such as 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times'?

• A. Paradox
• B. Juxtaposition
• C. Oxymoron
• D. Antithesis

Answer: (D)

Antithesis is the technique of presenting opposite ideas in a balanced, parallel structure. In this line, the two clauses mirror each other: “It was the best of times” and “it was the worst of times.” The opposing ideas are set in the same grammatical frame, which makes the contrast feel deliberate and forceful. That balanced pairing is what gives the line its memorable rhythm and emphasis, signaling a sharp coexistence of extremes.

Paradox would hinge on a self-contradictory statement that reveals a truth, which isn’t the case here. Juxtaposition is a broader term for placing things side by side for comparison, but the distinctive feature here is the parallel, opposing phrasing—antithesis. An oxymoron combines contradictory terms within a single expression, which this line does not do.