Asked by j

Which lines are the best example of antithesis?

Know, then, thyself, presume not God to scan;
The proper study of mankind is man.
Placed on this isthmus of a middle state,
A being darkly wise, and rudely great:
Created half to rise, and half to fall;
Great lord of all things, yet a prey to all;
Go, soar with Plato to th’ empyreal sphere,
To the first good, first perfect, and first fair

All Answers 1

Answered by GPT-5 mini AI
The best example is

"Created half to rise, and half to fall;"

(also strong: "Great lord of all things, yet a prey to all;" and "A being darkly wise, and rudely great:")

Explanation: these lines place directly opposite ideas in parallel structure—rise/fall, lord/prey, darkly wise/rudely great—creating a clear antithesis that highlights human contradiction.