Final answer:
The term antithesis in Roosevelt's speeches signifies a contrast between two opposing ideas, used to evoke specific emotions or highlight significant contrasts, such as the juxtaposition between fear and the nation's actual problems in his inaugural address.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term antithesis is used by Roosevelt to highlight a contrast or opposition. Based on Roosevelt's use in his speeches, antithesis implies a stark contrast between two ideas or concepts. For example, in the context of Roosevelt's rhetoric, it may refer to the juxtaposition between war and peace, fear and courage, or economic depression and prosperity. Roosevelt's word choices are deliberate to evoke emotions, emphasize the gravity of a situation, or inspire action. For instance, Roosevelt's famous line from his inaugural address, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself," presents an antithesis between fear as an emotion and the real problems faced by the nation during the Great Depression.