Reference and Education

What Is a Paradox in Writing?

What is a Paradox? Definitions can often feel, well, contradictory. Even though paradoxes have been a part of human thinking for thousands of years, they are not always well understood. This seems especially true of contrasts in movies, which often leave audiences scratching their heads. Whether you want to grasp what a Paradox is or write the following great brain-teasing movie Paradox, this article will get you started.

What is a Paradox?

A paradox is a statement that appears contradictory at first but then makes sense upon reflection. This literary device is typically used to help readers discover the underlying logic in a self-contradictory statement or phrase. As a result, paradox allows readers to understand concepts in a different and non-traditional way.

The Purpose of a contradiction

Contradiction in a sentence A paradox is a device the author uses to present the unique features of a particular situation. A paradox is used to get the audience to consider the situation it presents. Since the situation in a paradox is paradoxical, it causes a pause in reading for additional comprehension.

Orwell’s example from above does just that. Since there is something “off” about the statement, the reader should consider it before proceeding.

Often, it presents an exciting concept or idea or makes a statement without explicitly stating an opinion.

Because of the contradictory nature of a paraphrase, it should only be used if the author has a particular point or comment. Furthermore, a paradox causes the audience to pause and think; Therefore, it should be used only if it is directly linked to the purpose.

Difference Between Paradox and Oxymoron

Paradox vs Oxymoron: A concept similar to the paradox is that of an oxymoron. While both terms are related to using contrasts to achieve a dramatic effect, an oxymoron is more concerned with the contrasts of two distinctly opposing words.

On the other hand, a paradox is a general paradox of truth that may consist of several sentences to achieve the idea of ​​contradictions.

Additionally, the paradox is a more abstract presentation of ideas unlikely to exist simultaneously. For example, an oxymoron is a precise figure of speech that can serve to reveal a contradiction, so as such, you can consider an oxymoron to be a possible building block for the overall expression of a contradiction.

Importance of paradox 

Part of why paradox is such a useful literary tool is that it invites readers to be actively involved in using logic and working to find hidden meaning in a story. This makes the reading process more enjoyable than if all the essential information was revealed to the reader without requiring mental work. This type of reading is far less engaging and can seem monotonous. Finally, Paradox invites readers to use their wits to discover hidden ideas or meanings. The result provides a pleasant response for the reader’s brain.

The paradox can be used in all genres and works well in prose, poetry, and drama. Paradox helps convey irony and helps readers make assumptions that help move the plot forward in an engaging way. In addition, a paradox is applicable when a writer wants to invite the reader to think deeply about a particular topic. This is useful in poetry, in particular, because many poems rely on the reader’s guesswork to pack a punch.

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