Purposive Communication 2/Eulogy and Figure of Speech Part 1

Antithesis

MODULE 10: Antithesis

Course Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the module, the students will be able to:
1. Identify and analyze antithesis and its concepts
2. Describe antithesis from the examples given
3. Identify the other rhetoric figure of speeches

Antithesis

Two contrasting ideas are intentionally juxtaposed, usually through parallel structure; a
contrasting of opposing ideas in adjacent phrases, clauses, or sentences. 2
Antithesis always contains two different ideas, its grammatical structure should be
balanced and contrasting ideas must be expressed in a parallel manner. Aristotle said
that antithesis makes it easier for the audience to understand the point being made.1

Example of Antithesis

Example 1:

"We find rich in goods but ragged in spirit, reaching with magnificent precision for

the moon but falling in a raucous discord on earth. We are caught in war wanting

peace. We're torn by division wanting unity."

‐‐Richard M Nixon
Purposive Communication 2/Eulogy and Figure of Speech Part 1
Antithesis

Example 2:

“That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.”
— Neil Armstrong
Example 3:

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 are torn by division, wanting unity.
— Richard Nixon

Other Rhetorical Figures3

RHETORICAL FIGURES
Alliteration Allusion Anadiplosis Analogy

Anaphora Anesis Antimetabole Antithesis

Aposiopesis Appositio Assonance Asyndeton

Catachresis Climax Conduplicatio Diacope

Distinctio Enthymeme Enumeratio Epanalepsis

Epistrophe Epitheton Epizeuxis Euphemismos

Exemplum Expletive Hyperbole Hypophora

Metaphor Oxymoron Paradox Parallelism

Personification Polysyndeton Rhetorical Question Scesis Onomaton

Sententia Simile Symploce Synecdoche

Purposive Communication 2/Eulogy and Figure of Speech Part 1
Antithesis

Note: Some of the rhetorical figures mentioned on the table will be further discussed in
the succeeding modules.

Sources:

1
Zimmer, John. (2019). Manner of Speaking. Date Retrieved October 2, 2019 from
https://mannerofspeaking.org/2016/02/06/rhetorical-devices-antithesis/

2
MIT Open Course Ware. (2009). Classical Rhetoric and Political Discourse. Date
Retrieved September 27, 2019 from https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/comparative-media-
studies-writing/21w-747-classical-rhetoric-and-modern-political-discourse-fall-
2009/lecture-notes/MIT21W_747_01F09_lec05.pdf

3
Eidenmuller, Michael E. (2001-2019). American Rhetoric. Date Retrieved October 2,
2019 from https://americanrhetoric.com/rhetoricaldevicesinsound.htm