Antithesis is a rhetorical device in which two contrasting ideas are placed close together in parallel grammatical structures to create a balanced and emphatic effect. It highlights the opposition between the two ideas.

Examples include "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times" from Dickens's A Tale of Two Cities, and Neil Armstrong's "one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind". Antithesis is common in speeches, poetry, and advertising, and it can make a point more memorable and persuasive.

Key points

• Contrasting ideas in parallel structure
• Creates balance and emphasis
• Common in speeches and literature
• Highlights opposition