English Literature / Unit 2 ENL 0108 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Paradox, Oxymoron, Hyperbole, Litotes
Captions available
The idea
A paradox seems self-contradictory yet makes sense, as in "I must be cruel only to be kind." An oxymoron joins opposite words in one phrase, such as bittersweet. Hyperbole exaggerates for emphasis. Litotes understates, often by denying the opposite, as in "not bad."
In practice
Contradiction, collision, overstatement, understatement.
Where people slip
Litotes says less to mean more.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
Unlocks
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