Final answer:
The correct answer is option b. The term 'antithesis' is a noun that means a direct opposite or a contradiction and is used as a literary device to contrast ideas for effect. In use, one might say, 'His actions were the antithesis of his words.'
Step-by-step explanation:
The word antithesis represents a literary device characterized by the juxtaposition of contrasting ideas, often in parallel structure, to highlight differences. In a more general sense, it refers to the exact opposite or a contradiction. Antithesis is a noun, and in a sentence, you could say: "His actions were the antithesis of his words," meaning his actions contradicted what he said.
In literature, the antithesis often highlights conflict, such as between a protagonist and antagonist, or internal struggle within a character. As seen in literature, the ghost's presence in Hamlet could be seen as the antithesis to the thesis that Hamlet is imagining things, thus highlighting the deeper conflicts at play in the narrative.