Antithesis , antithesis (from other Greek ἀντίθεσις “opposition”) is a rhetorical opposition, a stylistic figure of contrast in art or oratory , consisting in a sharp contrast of concepts, positions, images, conditions, interconnected by a common construction or internal meaning [1 ] .
Antithesis in the literature
The figure of the antithesis can serve as a construction principle for entire poetic plays or individual parts of literary works in poetry and prose. For example, Petrarch F. has a sonnet (translation of Verkhovsky Yu. N. ), entirely built on the antithesis:
And there is no peace - and there are no enemies anywhere;
I am afraid - I hope, I am ashamed and burning;
I am dragging myself in the dust - and in the sky I dwell;
Everyone is alien to the world - and the world is ready to embrace.
In her captivity of bondage I do not know;
They do not want to own me, but oppression is severe;
Cupid does not destroy and does not break the fetters;
And life has no end and torment - the edge.
I am sighted - without eyes; nem - I cry out;
And the thirst for death - I pray to save;
I felt ashamed of myself - and I love all others;
Suffering - alive; with a laugh I sob;
And death and life are cursed with longing;
And this fault, oh donna - you!
Descriptions, characteristics, especially the so-called comparative ones, are often built antithetically.
For example, the description of Peter the Great in Stans by Pushkin A. S .:
Either academician or hero
That navigator, then the carpenter ...- Pushkin A.S. Stans
Sharply emphasizing the contrasting features of the compared members, the antithesis precisely because of its sharpness is too persistent convincing and bright (for which this figure was so loved by romantics ). Many stylists therefore reacted negatively to the antithesis, and on the other hand, poets with rhetorical pathos, such as Hugo or Mayakovsky , are noticeably addicted to it:
Our strength is true
yours are laurels ringing.
Yours is incense smoke
ours is a smoke factory.
Your power is a dime
ours is a red flag.
We will take,
we will take
and win.
The symmetry and analytical nature of the antithesis make it very appropriate in some strict forms , such as, for example, in the Alexandrian verse , with its clear division into two parts.
The sharp clarity of the antithesis also makes it very suitable for the style of works that strive for direct persuasiveness, as, for example, in declaratively political works, with a social tendency, campaigning or having a moralistic purpose, etc. Examples include:
The proletarians have nothing to lose in it except their chains. They will acquire the whole world.
- Manifesto of the Communist Party
Who was nobody will become everything!
- International
Antithetical composition is often observed in social novels and plays with a contrasting comparison of the life of various classes (for example: The Iron Heel by J. London , The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain , etc.); an antithesis may underlie works depicting moral tragedy (for example: Dostoevsky's “Idiot” ), etc.
In this social vein, the antithesis technique was very peculiarly used by N. A. Nekrasov in the first poem from the “Songs” cycle:
For people, for cabbage soup - with a salt shaker chan,
And in our cabbage soup we have a cockroach, a cockroach!
The people of the godfather give children
And at our godfather our bread will come!
On people’s mind - go for a walk with godfather,
And on our mind - would not go with a bag?
Notes
- ↑ Kvyatkovsky A.P. Poetic Dictionary / Scientific. ed. I. Rodnyanskaya. - M .: Owls. Encycl., 1966
Links
- Antithesis // Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary : in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - SPb. , 1890-1907.