Question

which excerpt from dispatches is an example of paradox?

and at night it was beautiful. even the incoming was beautiful at night, beautiful and deeply dreadful.
one hit anywhere in the chopper would bring you back, bitten lips, white knuckles and all, and then you knew where you were.
at night you could lie out on some sandbags and watch the c-47s mounted with vulcans doing their work.
at night in khe sanh, waiting there, thinking about all of them (40,000, some said), thinking that they might really try it, could keep you up.

Explanation:

Define paradox in literary context

A paradox is a statement that appears self-contradictory or opposed to common sense, yet reveals a deeper, latent truth or reality.

Analyze the given excerpts

• Option 1: "And at night it was beautiful. Even the incoming was beautiful at night, beautiful and deeply dreadful." This contains a paradox because "incoming" (artillery fire) is described as both "beautiful" and "deeply dreadful"—two seemingly contradictory qualities that coexist in the reality of war.
• Option 2: "One hit anywhere in the chopper..." describes a straightforward, tense situation without a self-contradictory statement.
• Option 3: "At night you could lie out..." is a literal description of watching military aircraft.
• Option 4: "At night in Khe Sanh..." describes the psychological tension of waiting, without a paradoxical construction.

Identify the correct option

The first option is the correct example of a paradox.

Answer:

• (A) And at night it was beautiful. Even the incoming was beautiful at night, beautiful and deeply dreadful. (Correct answer)
• (B) One hit anywhere in the chopper would bring you back, bitten lips, white knuckles and all, and then you knew where you were.
• (C) At night you could lie out on some sandbags and watch the C-47's mounted with Vulcans doing their work.
• (D) At night in Khe Sanh, waiting there, thinking about all of them (40,000, some said), thinking that they might really try it, could keep you up.