In literature, a paradox is a statement, pair of statements, or even the exploration of an idea that seems contradictory upon first glance. This idea will force the reader to take a deeper look in order to fully understand the meaning. An author might use a paradox in order to draw in ...
Literary Paradox in Depth The special ability of the figure of speech called paradox—which is to simultaneously seem self-contradictory and yet also reveal unexpected meaning—often depends on words that can be interpreted in more than one way. For instance, in Shakespeare's Hamlet, when Hamlet...
A paradox is used in literature when a writer brings together contrasting and contradictory elements that reveal a deeper truth. This may be a piece of unexpected information, or something that would otherwise have remained hidden had not the paradox asserted itself. A paradox is usually something...
What Is a Paradox in Literature? Paradoxes are often used in literature as a poignant device. A literary paradox is a statement that appears to contradict itself, but upon further rumination, either reveals a deeper meaning or actually makes sense. Literary paradoxes are often used to illustrate ...
A paradox involves a statement or situation that contradicts itself or seems to go against common sense. It is often used to create an element of surprise or confusion in a work of literature, and to challenge the reader's assumptions about the world. A
in literary prose or poetry, it often functions to increase the richness and subtlety oflanguageand to imbue it with a complexity that expands the literalmeaningof the original statement. WilliamEmpson’sSeven Types of Ambiguity(1930; rev. ed. 1953) remains a full and useful treatment of the ...
In literature and rhetoric, paradoxes can be used as rhetorical devices or plot devices. Paradoxes are typically used in literature to express philosophical observations in a memorable and sometimes humorous way, but they can also be used satirically to express criticism. ...
Twitter Google Share on Facebook Related to paradoxism:paroxysm par´a`dox`ism (păr´å`dǒks`ĭz'm) n.1.An avant-garde movement in literature, art, and philosophy, based on excessive used of antitheses, antinomies, contradictions, oxymorons, and paradoxes. ...
In fact, the witches themselves can be seen as a paradox as Macbeth describes them as "imperfect speakers" (1.1.171) who speak "strange intelligence" (1.1.177). As the conversation ends, the witches "melted / as breath into the wind" (1.1.183-84), meaning they seemed real but ...
A paradox is a figure of speech in which a statement appears to contradict itself. This type of statement can be described as paradoxical. A compressed paradox comprised of just a few words is called an oxymoron. This term comes from the Greekparadoxa, meaning "incredible, contrary to opinion...