Which term describes an apparent contradiction pointing towards truth?

• A. Irony
• B. Diction
• C. Paradox
• D. Foreshadowing

Answer: (C)

Paradox is when a statement or situation seems contradictory on the surface yet contains a deeper truth when you think about it. In literature and critical reading, paradox challenges straightforward logic and invites you to hold two opposing ideas at once to uncover a more nuanced insight about life, character, or the human condition. That tension—an apparent contradiction that reveals something true—makes paradox the best fit for describing an apparent contradiction pointing toward truth. Irony, while it also involves contrast between appearance and reality, centers on expectation versus outcome or what is meant versus what is said, rather than on a self-contained contradiction that leads to a deeper truth. Diction is simply about word choice and style, not about exposing truth through opposing ideas. Foreshadowing hints at what may come later, not a current paradox that illuminates meaning.