Contradictions and Contradictions and ParadoxesParadoxes

Insights into literature and lifeInsights into literature and life

What is a contradiction?What is a contradiction?

• When two things are said to coexist, When two things are said to coexist, but (in fact), they do not line up.but (in fact), they do not line up.

• For example, when we say one thing For example, when we say one thing and do another. and do another.

Examples of ContradictionsExamples of Contradictions

• ……When you turn in a late cover letter When you turn in a late cover letter which indicates that you are a hard worker which indicates that you are a hard worker who “likes to get things done.”who “likes to get things done.”

• ……When your friend tells you you’re When your friend tells you you’re boyfriend is scum and then dates him once boyfriend is scum and then dates him once you are broken up.you are broken up.

• ……When you tell someone you love them, When you tell someone you love them, but you don’t know what love is.but you don’t know what love is.

Why do people contradict Why do people contradict themselves?themselves?

• We are We are ignorantignorant to the fact that we to the fact that we are being contradictory. are being contradictory.

• We are We are hypocriteshypocrites that don’t that don’t “practice what we preach.”“practice what we preach.”

Think back to those examples Think back to those examples of contradiction…. of contradiction…. (Ignorance vs. (Ignorance vs. Hypocrisy)Hypocrisy)

• ……When you turn in a late cover letter When you turn in a late cover letter which indicates that you are a hard worker which indicates that you are a hard worker who “likes to get things done.”who “likes to get things done.”

• ……When your friend tells you you’re When your friend tells you you’re boyfriend is scum and then dates him once boyfriend is scum and then dates him once you are broken up.you are broken up.

• ……When you tell someone you love them, When you tell someone you love them, but you don’t know what love is.but you don’t know what love is.

• What do you think the world would What do you think the world would be likebe like

withoutwithout people contradicting people contradicting themselves?themselves?

A world without A world without contradiction…contradiction…

• More than likely, one of two things More than likely, one of two things would have to occur…would have to occur…

• 1.) People would 1.) People would alwaysalways be be rightright..

• 2.) 2.) FundamentalFundamental truths would waiver. truths would waiver.

One more time..One more time..(Always Right, (Always Right,

Fundamental Truth)Fundamental Truth)

• ……When you turn in a late cover letter When you turn in a late cover letter which indicates that you are a hard worker which indicates that you are a hard worker who “likes to get things done.”who “likes to get things done.”

• ……When your friend tells you you’re When your friend tells you you’re boyfriend is scum and then dates him once boyfriend is scum and then dates him once you are broken up.you are broken up.

• ……When you tell someone you love them, When you tell someone you love them, but you don’t know what love is.but you don’t know what love is.

Why do characters in literature Why do characters in literature contradict themselves? contradict themselves?

• ……Because, otherwise, characters are Because, otherwise, characters are unrealistically boring. unrealistically boring.

• ……Because contradiction brings about Because contradiction brings about character change.character change.

• ……Because that is all we know.Because that is all we know.

What can we learn about What can we learn about characters from their characters from their contradictions?contradictions?• ……That they are ignorant.That they are ignorant.

• ……That they are hypocrites.That they are hypocrites.

• That judgment call is for us to make as That judgment call is for us to make as readers…However, authors will often readers…However, authors will often make it clear to emit a certain make it clear to emit a certain message.message.

How did these characters How did these characters contradict themselves?contradict themselves?

• Barbara AllenBarbara Allen

• Nikki (the mother)Nikki (the mother)

Contradiction QuoteContradiction Quote

What is a paradox?What is a paradox?

• When two things coexist in an When two things coexist in an unexplained way, seemingly opposite unexplained way, seemingly opposite and imposing of one another.and imposing of one another.

Contradiction vs. ParadoxContradiction vs. Paradox

• The chief difference is that a The chief difference is that a contradiction is used to analyze contradiction is used to analyze charactercharacter and a paradox is used to and a paradox is used to illustrateillustrate a a pointpoint..

For example…For example…

• The high road is humility.The high road is humility.

• To receive, give.To receive, give.

• Self control is the greatest freedom. Self control is the greatest freedom.

• The one who works hardest, works the The one who works hardest, works the least.least.

• Can you think of a paradox that Can you think of a paradox that illustrates a point?illustrates a point?

““Batter My Heart”, by John Batter My Heart”, by John DonneDonne• 1 1 BatterBatter my heart, my heart, three-person'dthree-person'd God, for you God, for you

2 As yet but knock, breathe, shine, and seek to 2 As yet but knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend;mend;3 That I may rise and stand, 3 That I may rise and stand, o'erthrowo'erthrow me, and bend me, and bend4 Your force to break, blow, burn, and make me new.4 Your force to break, blow, burn, and make me new.2 I, like an 2 I, like an usurp'dusurp'd town to'another due, town to'another due,6 Labor 6 Labor to'admitto'admit you, but oh, to no end; you, but oh, to no end;7 7 ReasonReason, your viceroy in me, me should defend,, your viceroy in me, me should defend,8 But is 8 But is captiv'dcaptiv'd, and proves weak or untrue., and proves weak or untrue.9 Yet dearly'I love you, and would be 9 Yet dearly'I love you, and would be lov'dlov'd fainfain,,10 But am 10 But am betroth'dbetroth'd unto your enemy; unto your enemy;11 Divorce me,'11 Divorce me,'untieuntie or break that knot again, or break that knot again,12 Take me to you, 12 Take me to you, imprisonimprison me, for I, me, for I,13 13 ExceptExcept you' you'enthrallenthrall me, never shall be free, me, never shall be free,14 14 NorNor ever ever chastechaste, except you , except you ravishravish me. me.

• 1.) What was John Donne trying to 1.) What was John Donne trying to say? What message was he trying to say? What message was he trying to get across?get across?

• 2.) Use the paradoxes in “Batter My 2.) Use the paradoxes in “Batter My Heart” as well as their explanations Heart” as well as their explanations to prove your answer to number 1.to prove your answer to number 1.

On Contradiction….On Contradiction….

• ““Let me never fall into the vulgar Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.” contradicted.”

––Ralph Waldo EmersonRalph Waldo Emerson

On Contradiction…On Contradiction…

• ““I believe that truth has only one I believe that truth has only one face: that of a violent contradiction.”face: that of a violent contradiction.”

- George Bataille- George Bataille

On Contradiction…On Contradiction…

• ““The well-bred contradict other The well-bred contradict other people. The wise contradict people. The wise contradict themselves.”themselves.”

- Oscar Wilde- Oscar Wilde

On Contradiction…On Contradiction…

• ““I have forced myself to contradict I have forced myself to contradict myself in order to avoid conforming myself in order to avoid conforming to my own taste.” to my own taste.”

– – Marcel DuchampMarcel Duchamp

On Contradiction…On Contradiction…

• ““That man is a creature who needs That man is a creature who needs order yet yearns for change is the order yet yearns for change is the creative contradiction at the heart of creative contradiction at the heart of laws which structure his conformity laws which structure his conformity and define his deviancy.” and define his deviancy.”

– – Freda AlderFreda Alder

Teaching is Learning!Teaching is Learning!

• You will be assigned a portion of the passage. You will be assigned a portion of the passage. • Your mission, as a group, is to teach just that Your mission, as a group, is to teach just that

portion to the entire class. portion to the entire class. • Everyone in the group must participate. Everyone in the group must participate. • I am not assigning a leader. But leadership still I am not assigning a leader. But leadership still

needs to be present…needs to be present…• You will teach the class tomorrow, first thing. You will teach the class tomorrow, first thing. • Be creative, use examples, visuals, and Be creative, use examples, visuals, and

whatever else you need to get the point across. whatever else you need to get the point across.

• Pick a number. Pick a number.

• Find the people with your number. Find the people with your number.

• Divide yourself up into two groups. Divide yourself up into two groups.

• After all is said and done, there After all is said and done, there should be 8 groups. should be 8 groups.

““Batter My Heart”, by John Batter My Heart”, by John DonneDonne

1 Batter my heart, 1 Batter my heart, three-person'dthree-person'd God, for you God, for you As yet but knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend; As yet but knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend; That I may rise and stand, That I may rise and stand, o'erthrowo'erthrow me, and bend me, and bend Your force to break, blow, burn, and make me new. Your force to break, blow, burn, and make me new.22 I, like an I, like an usurp'dusurp'd town to'another due town to'another due Labor Labor to'admitto'admit you, but oh, to no end; you, but oh, to no end; ReasonReason, your viceroy in me, me should defend,, your viceroy in me, me should defend, But is But is captiv'dcaptiv'd, and proves weak or untrue., and proves weak or untrue.33 Yet dearly'I love you, and would be lov'd Yet dearly'I love you, and would be lov'd fainfain,, But am But am betroth'dbetroth'd unto your enemy; unto your enemy; Divorce me,' Divorce me,'untieuntie or break that knot again, or break that knot again,4 Take me to you, imprison me, for I,4 Take me to you, imprison me, for I, Except you' Except you'enthrallenthrall me, never shall be free, me, never shall be free, Nor ever Nor ever chastechaste, except you , except you ravishravish me. me.