Hi. Unfortunately, you didn't cite the readings your question refers to. This makes it impossible for one of these readings to be analyzed so that your question can be answered. However, I will help you as best I can.
To answer this question, you will have to read one of these readings and find examples and contradiction, paradox and anthesis. This may sound difficult, but it will be very easy to identify them. In general, we can say that the authors use these figures of speech to demonstrate indecision, confusion of thoughts or highlight a meaning within the text. In relation to each of these figures of language, you will be able to identify the contradiction when the text shows an incompatibility between two elements. An example of this can be seen in the sentence: "I walk, but I remain in the same place."
The paradox and the antithesis are even easier to identify because the difference between them is well defined. The antithesis presents, in the same sentence, words that already have opposite meanings. An example of this is the sentence "love and hate go hand in hand." The paradox, however, presents opposite ideas, as in the sentence "Silence is the best speech."
