An antanagoge (
Greek ''ἀνταναγωγή'', a leading or bringing up), is a
figure in
rhetoric, in which, not being able to answer the accusation of an adversary, a person instead makes a counter-allegation or counteracting an opponent’s proposal with an opposing
proposition
In logic and linguistics, a proposition is the meaning of a declarative sentence. In philosophy, " meaning" is understood to be a non-linguistic entity which is shared by all sentences with the same meaning. Equivalently, a proposition is the no ...
in one's own speech or writing.
Antanagoge places a negative point next to and/or in between a positive point, in attempt to redirect attention away from the negative point.
It may also refer to placing a positive outlook on a situation that has a negative connotation, such as in the following examples:
Literary Examples
:"When life gives you lemons, make lemonade."
:"I got in a car accident, but I was planning on getting a new car anyway."
:"Many are the pains and perils to be passed,
: But great is the gain and glory at the last."
See also
References
{{Reflist
Figures of speech