Which technique involves suggesting two or more different, and sometimes conflicting, meanings in a work?

Ambiguity is the technique that involves suggesting two or more different and sometimes conflicting meanings within a work. This can be achieved through the use of language that is open to multiple interpretations, allowing readers to derive their own meanings based on context or personal perspective. Ambiguity enriches a text by introducing complexity and depth, prompting readers to engage more actively with the material as they consider various possibilities.

For example, a line of poetry may describe a situation that can evoke feelings of both joy and sorrow simultaneously, creating a layered emotional response that goes beyond a singular understanding.

Other techniques, while they may involve complex meanings, do not operate in quite the same way. Irony, for instance, typically involves a contrast between expectation and reality, often highlighting a discrepancy that can lead to humor or reflection but does not inherently suggest conflicting meanings. Oxymoron combines contradictory terms in a single phrase (like "bittersweet") but does not encompass the broader narrative ambiguity. Juxtaposition places different elements side by side to highlight contrasts or comparisons, but it does not inherently invoke multiple meanings on its own.