Love's Labor's Lost
by William Shakespeare

Love's Labor's Lost: Paradox 1 key example

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Definition of Paradox

A paradox is a figure of speech that seems to contradict itself, but which, upon further examination, contains some kernel of truth or reason. Oscar Wilde's famous declaration that "Life is... read full definition
A paradox is a figure of speech that seems to contradict itself, but which, upon further examination, contains some kernel of truth or reason. Oscar... read full definition
A paradox is a figure of speech that seems to contradict itself, but which, upon further examination, contains some kernel... read full definition

Key Examples in Love's Labor's Lost

Act 1, Scene 1
Explanation and Analysis—As Towns with Fire:

Berowne uses two paradoxes to describe the uselessness of studying:

So study evermore is overshot.                                                                                                         
While it doth study to have what it would,                                                                                           
It doth forget to do the thing it should.                                                                                           
And when it hath the thing it hunteth most,                                                                                   
‘Tis won as towns with fire—so won, so lost.