Concept:A paradox is a statement or comparison that appears self-contradictory or absurd on the surface but often reveals a deeper truth upon reflection.
Explanation:When two statements or comparisons seem to contradict each other, the brain is struck by an apparent impossibility.
This is the defining feature of a paradox, not a simple difference or opposition.
Contrast, on the other hand, merely places two unlike things together to highlight their differences, not their contradictory nature.
Irony involves a gap between expectation and reality, while parallelism refers to similarity in structure.
Since the key phrase is "apparently contradictory," the correct literary device is paradox.
Answer:B. paradox