Question

Which literary device does the following line employ?
"A timorous foe, and a suspicious friend."

• A. Antithesis
• B. Antistrophe
• C. Oxymoron
• D. Apostrophe

Hint:

When two opposing terms like "enemy" vs. "friend" appear in parallel structure, it signals antithesis. If the contradiction is within a single phrase (like "sweet sorrow"), it is an oxymoron.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Define the device.
Antithesis is a rhetorical device where contrasting or opposite ideas are expressed in parallel or balanced phrases to create emphasis.

Step 2: Apply to the given line.
The line contrasts two opposite relationships: \[ \text{"timorous foe" (fearful enemy)} \text{vs.} \text{"suspicious friend."} \] Both parts present paradoxical images, but more importantly, they are set in direct opposition: an enemy versus a friend. This clear juxtaposition of contrasting ideas exemplifies antithesis.

Step 3: Eliminate other options.
\begin{itemize} \item Antistrophe: Repetition of the same word at the end of successive clauses (not present here). \item Oxymoron: Combines contradictory terms within a single phrase (e.g., "bittersweet"). Here, "timorous foe" and "suspicious friend" are not internal contradictions but external contrasts. \item Apostrophe: Addressing an absent or abstract entity (e.g., "O Death!"). Not applicable. \end{itemize} \[ \boxed{\text{Correct Answer: Antithesis (A)}} \]