Paradox DefinitionA paradox is something that seems impossible and contradictory at first but, upon closer analysis, makes sense. It can even provide readers with needed information to understand a story of a real-life situation. When an author creates a paradox on purpose, they’re trying to ...
Definition of Paradox When used as a literary device, a paradox is the juxtaposition of a set of seemingly contradictory concepts that reveal a hidden and/or unexpected truth. The paradox may be hard or even impossible to believe, yet usually the contradiction can be reconciled if the reader t...
read full definition Lines 998-1310 Explanation and Analysis—Live at Random!: As Jocasta urges Oedipus to stop living life in fear of the prophecy, and Oedipus replies that he cannot do so for as long as his mother lives, a paradox arises: [JOCASTA:] Fear? What should a man fear?
Denotation refers to the literal or dictionary definition of a word, without any additional connotation or associated meanings. It is the objective and factual meaning of a word, rather than its emotional, cultural, or symbolic significance. Denotation can be used deliberately by authors to create ...
Within poetry, the word conceit refers to two different kinds of comparisons. There is the metaphysical, made famous by John Donne, and the Petrarchan.
To discuss and analyze literature it is important to know some of the basic terms and expressions used within the subject area. The following glossary covers the most widely used terms. TermDefinition allegory Simply put, an allegory is a narrative that has a symbolic meaning. That is, the ...
Like its psychological definition,synesthesiain literature describes the conflation of two senses. This might materialize in the author using one sense to describe another, or blend the two altogether. Example:"The silence that dwells in the forest is not so black." — Oscar Wilde ...
Denotation refers to the literal or dictionary definition of a word, without any additional connotation or associated meanings. It is the objective and factual meaning of a word, rather than its emotional, cultural, or symbolic significance. Denotation can be used deliberately by authors to create ...
When you want toadd a hidden meaning to a conceptin your writing, use a paradox. It will engage the reader by subtly adding a sense of mystery to a larger context. Many readers love to read between the lines! An example of a paradoxis found in this quote: “Keep your friends close,...
Note that a paradox is different from an oxymoron:aparadox is an entire phrase or sentence,whereas an oxymoron is a combination of just two words. Example:Here's a famous paradoxical sentence: "This statement is false." If the statement is true, then it isn't actually false (as it sugge...