What is paradox? paradox literary term definition and example

 

paradox literary term definition

 A statement that appears to contradict itself. Example( I may rise and stand ,overthrow me and bend). Paradox can prove to be very revealing about human nature and the way that we speak. If someone says to you “i`m a compulsive liar,” do you believe them or not?That statement in itself is a paradox ,because it is self contradictory,which is precisely what a paradox is. At the most basic level , a paradox is a statement that is self contradictory because if often contains two statement that are both true,but in general,cannot both be true at the same time.

 

Easy paradox literary term  example

·         Child is the father of man.

·         There is no one so poor as a wealthy miser.

·         The beginning of the end

·         Be cruel to be kind

·         Men work together whether they work together or apart.

·         If you Didn`t get this message ,call me.

·         You Shouldn`t go in the water until you know how to swim.

·         Nobody goes to that restaurant because it is too crowded.

·         A rich man is no richer than a poor man.

·         I can resist anything but temptation.

·         Bitter-sweet

·         I am no body

·         What a pity that youth must be wasted on the young.

 

Paradox example in literature

 In Geroge Orwell`s Animal Farm, The words “ All animal are equal, But some are more equal than others” Are part of the cardinal rules.Clearly this statement does not make logical sense. However ,the point of a paradox is to point out a truth,even if the statements contradict each other.Orwell is trying to make some sort of political statement here. Perhaps it is that the government claims that everyone is equal when that is clearly false ,or perhaps it is that individuals have skewed perceptions of what it means to be equal.The Interpretation is up to the reader to decide.