A paradox is the literary device of the phrase “never say never”. A paradox is a contradictory phrase. This means that it does exactly what it says it should not do. In the phrase "never say never", the paradox occurs because the phrase is using "never" to tell you not to say it. Therefore, it is contradicting itself.
Paradoxes can be confusing because that is exactly what they are - confusing! They make a statement that seems ridiculous but actually can reveal a probable truth. Things can also be described as a paradox using the adjective form: paradoxical.
One of the famous literary paradoxes can be found in Shakespeare's Hamlet. Hamlet says that he must be "cruel to be kind". In this paradox, Hamlet is contradicting himself because cruel and kind are opposites; and yet, he must do one to accomplish the other.
It is important to note here that paradoxes are not just a literary device. When referred to as a literary device, they are specifically about what is written in a text. However, the word paradox can also refer to events that are contradictory when speaking of a situation that is seemingly impossible to scientifically explain.
paradox
paradoxes
paradoxical
paradox definition
paradox with examples
paradox examples
paradox literary definition.
