See it in language
Examples of Nemesis
The detective's recurring nemesis anticipates every trap.
Instructional example
His fraud produced its own nemesis when the false accounts became evidence against him.
Instructional example
Nemesis means fitting retribution.
The essay invokes Nemesis as a force that checks arrogant excess.
Instructional example
The capitalized term evokes the classical divine figure or principle.
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In Shakespeare's play "Hamlet," the nemesis of the main character is his uncle, who murdered his father and married his mother.
Instructional example
In J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" series, Voldemort is the nemesis of the protagonist, Harry Potter, who must defeat him in order to save the wizarding world.
Instructional example
In F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby," the nemesis of the main character, Jay Gatsby, is his own past and the class divide that separates him from his love interest.
Instructional example
In the Greek myth of Oedipus, the nemesis of the protagonist is his own fate and the prophecy that he will kill his father and marry his mother.
Instructional example
In the film "The Dark Knight," the nemesis of Batman is the Joker, a chaotic and unpredictable villain who challenges Batman's sense of justice and morality.
Instructional example
Read like an editor
How to recognize it
- Define Nemesis by its central function, not merely by a nearby feature.
- Check the surrounding context before deciding that Nemesis applies.
- Explain what the classification helps a reader understand about the passage or work.
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked questions
What is the clearest way to recognize Nemesis?
Use the defining criteria and confirm them against the surrounding context rather than relying on one isolated word.
Is Nemesis a literary device?
No. In this reference architecture it is classified as literary term.