The Slavic antithesis is a stylistic device used in Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian, and Macedonian epic poetry.
It is usually implemented at the beginning of the poem and consists of three parts: a question is asked, then a negative answer is given, and finally the real explanation is provided.
The first two parts of the Slavic antithesis are usually similar, while the last verse (the explanation) differs.
[1] This is an example of the Slavic antithesis from the beginning of the Bosnian ballad "Hasanaginica":[2][3]
The Slavic Antithesis is also exemplified by one of western pop culture's most iconic lines: "Is it a bird?