Figures of balance may be divided between those that are schemes (the artful arrangements of words), and those that are figures of thought (addressing the subject matter, not the manner of expression). Some figures cross over between the two types, such as the figure antithesis.

Figures of Balance - Schemes

These figures often rely upon various kinds of parallel and antithetical structures.

• parallelism
  Similarity of structure in a pair or series of related words, phrases, or clauses. (See Figures of Parallelism)
• isocolon
  A kind of a parallelism in which a series of similarly structured elements all have the same length.
• tricolon
  Three parallel elements of the same length occurring together.
• antithesis
  Juxtaposition of contrasting ideas (often in parallel structure).
• climax
  Generally, the arrangement of words, phrases, or clauses in an order of increasing importance, often in parallel structure.

Figures of Balance - Subject Matter

• dirimens copulatio
  A figure by which one balances one statement with a contrary, qualifying statement
• antithesis
  Juxtaposition of contrasting ideas (often in parallel structure).
• in utrumque partes
  Arguing both sides of an issue.