how to start an essay on juxtaposition

28 Juxtaposition Examples + How to Use It Effectively When Writing

• Updated: 03/04/24
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Juxtaposition, a literary technique used by writers across multiple genres, often catches readers off-guard, making an otherwise standard narrative suddenly interesting and insightful.

This powerful tool, when expertly wielded, can illuminate contrasts, deepen characterizations, and highlight the intricacies of a plot.

In this article, we’ll explore the juxtaposition definition, use cases, and 28 juxtaposition examples in a variety of contexts.

We’ll also share some tips on how you can incorporate this technique into your own writing for maximum effect.

Prepare to dive into a world where the unexpected becomes the norm and ordinary descriptions transform into compelling storytelling.

What is Juxtaposition?

Juxtaposition is a literary technique where two or more ideas, places, characters, or actions are placed side by side in a narrative or a poem for the purpose of developing comparisons and contrasts.

This literary device is widely used in literature to highlight contrasting concepts or profound similarities between the elements involved.

Through juxtaposition, writers can effectively emphasize the contrast between opposing elements, creating a powerful, thought-provoking effect that engages the reader’s emotions and intellect.

Other Literary Devices Like Juxtaposition

There are other literary devices that can be used to create a contrast between elements.

• Irony , for example, involves the use of words or phrases that convey an unexpected meaning or contrast with what is expected.
• Simile and metaphor are both forms of comparison, where two seemingly disparate things are compared in order to produce a vivid image in the reader’s mind.
• Oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines two opposing terms to create a clever paradox.
• Hyperbole is the use of exaggerated language for emphasis or effect.

Finally, litotes is a form of understatement where an affirmative statement is made by using negatives to create emphasis and irony.

When to Use Juxtaposition

Juxtaposition is an effective tool for creating a memorable narrative.

When used properly, it can create powerful visuals and meaningful associations that would otherwise be lost without the comparison of separate elements.

Whether it’s to make readers laugh or to emphasize a change in tone, juxtaposition can be used in many different ways.

Here are some examples of when to use it in writing:

• To emphasize a contrast between two ideas, characters, or situations.
• To create a comedic effect by using unexpected elements.
• To acknowledge the complexity of a certain situation without explicitly stating it.
• To create a surprise element in the narrative.
• To evoke emotion in the reader.

Next, we’ll dive into some juxtaposition examples to help you get a better idea of when and how you can use this literary device.

25 Examples of Juxtaposition

Here are 25 examples of juxtaposition in a variety of different use cases.

Juxtaposition in Literature

Let’s take a look at some juxtaposition in literature to see how this powerful narrative tool can be used to create vivid settings, compelling characters, and even entire worlds.

• Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

In A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens wrote “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”

This opening line of the novel is a classic example of complete opposites which immediately draws the reader in and sets up the dichotomy between each city – Paris and London.

• Ernest Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea

In The Old Man and the Sea, Ernest Hemingway wrote “Everything about him was old except his eyes and they were the same color as the sea.”

Here, Hemingway cleverly juxtaposes the old man’s physical age with his youthful spirit, emphasizing his resilience despite seemingly insurmountable odds.

• George Orwell, Animal Farm

George Orwell wrote “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”

This line juxtaposes the farm’s egalitarian ideals with the oppressive hierarchy that exists in reality – a message that speaks to readers even today.

• John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men

In Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck wrote “The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.”

This quote juxtaposes the symbolic figures of mice, who are small and helpless, with men, who appear to be powerful but are still subject to fate.

• William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

In Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare wrote “My only love sprung from my only hate!”

This quote juxtaposes the two opposing emotions of love and hate in one powerful line, emphasizing the tragic romance between the two protagonists.

Juxtaposition in Poetry

Poetry is an excellent medium for exploring the complexities of juxtaposition.

Let’s take a look at some common examples of juxtaposition in poetry:

• Robert Frost, The Road Not Taken

In “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost, the poet writes “Two roads diverged in a wood, … and I took the one less traveled by.”

Through the stark contrast of these two paths, Frost conveys a message about the importance of making difficult decisions and following your own path.

• William Wordsworth, The World Is Too Much With Us

In “The World Is Too Much With Us” by William Wordsworth, the poet wrote “Little we see in Nature that is ours.”

Wordsworth juxtaposes the idea of human ownership with nature’s beauty and power, a timeless message about appreciating the natural world.

• Emily Dickinson, Hope Is the Thing With Feathers

In “Hope Is the Thing With Feathers” by Emmy Dickinson, the poet wrote “Though the way be stormy, it will still survive.”

Here, Dickinson juxtaposes storms with hope in order to convey a message of optimism and strength in hard times.

• Edward Estlin Cummings, I Carry Your Heart With Me

In “I Carry Your Heart with Me” by E.E. Cummings, the poet wrote “i carry your heart with me (i carry it in my heart).”

This quote juxtaposes two seemingly opposite emotions – love and physicality – to emphasize the depth of emotion that can be felt in a relationship.

• Robert Hayden, Those Winter Sundays

In “Those Winter Sundays” by Robert Hayden, the poet writes “No one ever thanked him.”

This simple line juxtaposes the idea of appreciation and gratitude with its absence for an emotional impact that speaks to readers even today.

Juxtaposition in Film

Film is an excellent medium for exploring juxtaposed concepts through visual storytelling.

Let’s take a look at some juxtaposition examples in film:

• The Godfather

In The Godfather, the differences of its main character Michael Corleone’s transformation from an innocent bystander to a ruthless mob boss is masterfully used to evoke emotion in viewers and emphasize the power of corruption.

• The Shawshank Redemption

The Shawshank Redemption tells the story of Andy Dufresne, a man wrongly convicted of murdering his wife.

The juxtaposition between Andy’s hope for a better life and the stark reality of his imprisonment paints a powerful story of resilience.

• The Wizard of Oz

The Wizard of Oz tells the story of Dorothy Gale and her journey to the mythical Land of Oz.

Throughout her adventures, the differences between fantasy and reality is used as a narrative tool to emphasize Dorothy’s longing for home and the importance of friendship.

• Jurassic Park

Jurassic Park tells the story of a theme park populated by dinosaurs created with modern science.

The juxtaposition between the prehistoric creatures and modern technology conveys a message about the power and potential dangers of scientific advancements.

• Forrest Gump

Forrest Gump is a classic example of juxtaposition in film, with its main character’s simple outlook on life being contrasted against the complex nature of life itself.

By placing Forrest’s naive musings against moments of deep insight, director Robert Zemeckis shows how even the simplest person can be profound.

Juxtaposition in Advertising

Highlighting contrast and differences can also be used to create powerful and memorable advertising campaigns.

Let’s take a look at a few examples of juxtaposition in advertising:

• Nike ‘Just Do It’ Campaign

The Nike ‘Just Do It’ campaign is a perfect example of juxtaposition in advertising, with its simple slogan contrasting against the complexity and difficulty of pushing yourself physically.

The message — that greatness takes hard work and perseverance — resonates with viewers even today.

• Apple ‘Think Different’ Campaign

Apple’s ‘Think Different’ campaign highlights the juxtaposed normality of daily life against the potential power of thinking differently.

The campaign conveys a powerful message that creative thought can lead to extraordinary things.

• Coca-Cola ‘Open Happiness’ Campaign

The Coca-Cola ‘Open Happiness’ campaign shares a message of joy and hope contrasting against life’s everyday struggles.

The idea of seeking joy in the little things is a powerful reminder that happiness can be found even in the most difficult situations.

• Burger King ‘Be Your Way’ Campaign

The message in this campaign shares the two elements of individuality and conformity, contrasting individualism against an ever-increasing focus on conformity and sameness in society.

The campaign conveys a powerful message about the importance of staying true to yourself, no matter what others may think.

Juxtaposition in Everyday Life

Let’s take a look at some juxtaposition examples in everyday life that can be used to emphasize ideas, evoke emotions, and more.

• A Vividly Colored Flower Growing Out of Concrete

This is a powerful reminder that beauty can be found even in the most unlikely places.

The contrast between something as vibrant and alive as a flower growing out of something as hard and grey as concrete speaks to the resilience and potential that exists within all of us.

• Contrasting a Thrill Seekers Excitement with a Fearful Reaction

We all experience moments of fear and excitement, but our ideas of what is scary and what is exciting can vary greatly.

The thrill seeker’s enthusiasm juxtaposed with the fearful reaction of someone else over the same situation emphasizes how everyone responds to life’s experiences in their own unique way.

• A Sunset Against an Industrial Landscape

The beautiful colors of a sunset juxtaposed with the harsh lines of industrial structures speaks is a powerful reminder that while industrialization has brought great advances, nature still holds beauty and power that can’t be replicated.

• The Smiling Face of a Child During a Difficult Time

This example of juxtaposition emphasizes the idea that even during challenging times, joy and hope still exist.

The contrast between the tough reality of a difficult situation and the child’s smiling face is an inspiring reminder of the potential for hope and happiness, no matter the circumstances.

Juxtaposition in Song Lyrics

Juxtaposition can also be found in song lyrics, adding an extra layer of emotion and meaning to the words.

Let’s take a look at some examples of juxtaposition in song lyrics:

• Elton John, ‘Tiny Dancer’

In his song “Tiny Dancer”, Elton John writes “Hold me closer tiny dancer.”

This juxtaposes the idea of strength and fragility – a powerful reminder that even the strongest among us need love and support.

• The Beatles, ‘Let It Be’

In their song “Let It Be”, The Beatles write “When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me.”

Here, the juxtaposed concepts of faith and personal struggle speaks to listeners of all backgrounds.

• Simon & Garfunkel, ‘The Sound of Silence’

In their song “The Sound of Silence”, Simon & Garfunkel write “People talking without speaking.”

This juxtaposes communication and silence to emphasize the power of words when used effectively.

• Bob Dylan, ‘Blowin’ in the Wind’

In his song “Blowin’ in the Wind”, Bob Dylan writes “How many roads must a man walk down before you call him a man?”

This juxtaposes physical and symbolic journeys to emphasize the idea that true strength comes from within.

• The Rolling Stones, ‘(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction’

In their song “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”, The Rolling Stones write “Try to give me satisfaction but I can’t get no.”

This juxtaposes the idea of happiness and unhappiness to emphasize how difficult it is to find true contentment in life.

How to Use Juxtaposition in Your Writing

Now that you’ve seen some examples of how juxtaposition is used in literature and poetry, let’s look at some tips on how you can incorporate this technique into your own writing.

• Start with an interesting opening line. – This will draw the reader in and create anticipation for the rest of your work.
• Compare two seemingly opposite elements. – By comparing two opposing elements, you can emphasize their differences and illustrate a point in a more effective way.
• Use vivid imagery . – This will help to make the contrasts between the elements stand out even more and create a stronger emotional response from readers.
• Be careful not to overuse juxtaposition. – Too much of this technique can become distracting and take away from the main message of your writing.

By following these tips, you can use juxtaposed ideas in your writing to create powerful visuals, meaningful associations, and memorable narratives that will engage readers.

FAQs About Juxtaposition Examples

A common example of juxtaposition is the term “bittersweet”, where two elements – bitterness and sweetness – are placed together to create contrast and poignant meaning. This literary device is often used in poetry and prose to enhance the narrative and evoke deeper understanding.

A real-life example of juxtaposition could be the planting of a flourishing garden in the midst of an otherwise barren and desolate urban landscape. This juxtaposition highlights the stark contrast between the natural beauty of the garden and the dull, monotonous urban surroundings, thereby emphasizing the resilience and vitality of nature.

Juxtaposition in a sentence involves placing two or more ideas, characters, actions, or settings side by side in a narrative or a poem, for the purpose of comparison or contrast. For instance, in the sentence “He was a gentle giant,” the juxtaposition of “gentle” and “giant” creates a contrast that deepens our understanding of the character described.

A famous example of juxtaposition can be seen in Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech, where he juxtaposes his dream of racial equality with the harsh reality of discrimination. This powerful contrast serves to highlight the stark difference between the existing racial inequality and his vision of a harmonious future, thus deepening the emotional impact of his speech.

Summary of Juxtaposition Examples

Juxtaposition refers to the placement of two or more contrasting elements side by side in order to create contrast and meaning.

This technique has been used by writers and poets for centuries and can be seen in various forms, such as song lyrics, literature, and daily life.

When used properly, juxtaposition can create vivid imagery, evoke emotional responses, and provide readers with insight into the narrative or poem.

We hope that these examples and tips have given you a better understanding of how to use juxtaposed ideas in your writing.

Writing is a creative art form, so don’t forget to experiment with a variety of literary devices to find the one that best suits your writing style.

With practice, you’ll be able to use this technique effectively and make your stories even more dynamic. Good luck!

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Juxtaposition: Definition and Examples

By Hannah Yang

Juxtaposition is a literary technique that places two distinctly dissimilar things side by side to bring out their differences.

Read on to learn the definition of juxtaposition and to see some of the most powerful examples of juxtaposition in literature.

What Does Juxtaposition Mean?

What is the purpose of juxtaposition in literature, what are the different types of juxtaposition, what are some examples of juxtaposition.

Whether you write essays or novels, you can make your writing more powerful by using the literary technique of juxtaposition.

Juxtaposition means placing two unrelated things next to each other to highlight their differences.

This technique is a subtle way to encourage the reader to compare and contrast two or more elements in a story: characters, settings, events, moods, and more.

Juxtaposition is usually used to accomplish one or more of the following things:

• To make the reader laugh
• To explore the relationship between two elements
• To help the reader see a single thing in a more complex way
• To teach a lesson about one thing being better than another

Let’s explore each of these goals in detail.

Juxtaposition That Makes the Reader Laugh

Sometimes, juxtaposition can be funny or absurd.

We often see rom-coms where opposites attract. The social butterfly falls for the recluse. The goody-two-shoes falls for the rule-breaker.

You can use this type of stark contrast to add an element of humor to your writing.

Juxtaposition That Explores the Relationship Between Two Elements

By bringing two dissimilar things together, you can show the reader how those two elements interact with one another.

Maybe the two unrelated ideas clash and create fertile ground for conflict. Or maybe they complement each other, each making up for what the other lacks.

One common example of juxtaposition in literary settings is the rural-urban divide.

Showing a character travel from the city to the countryside, or vice versa, helps us understand how each one complements the other.

Juxtaposition That Helps the Reader See a Single Thing in a More Complex Way

Sometimes, juxtaposition can help the reader see a single thing in a more complex way.

Showing two sides of a single character is a common way to add complexity to their personality.

For example, you might create a grumpy character who frightens all the kids in his neighborhood, but who is also exceptionally kind to the stray cat he feeds every morning.

Those two contrasting traits help the reader to see him as a three-dimensional character .

Juxtaposition That Teaches a Lesson About One Thing Being Better Than Another

Juxtaposition can also be used to impart a lesson about one thing being better than another.

Many fables famously utilize this type of juxtaposition. Aesop’s fable of the tortoise and the hare is a juxtaposition of a lazy animal with a hardworking one.

This contrast teaches children that “slow and steady wins the race.”

This type of juxtaposition is also common in action and adventure stories.

By showing good and evil side-by-side, the author makes the good guys look like the right side to root for, even when they do morally grey things in the name of their cause.

Juxtaposition refers to any type of contrast created between different things when placed side by side.

Because this is such a broad concept, there are many other literary terms that refer to specific types of juxtaposition.

Three common terms are oxymoron , character foils , and antithesis .

Are Oxymorons and Juxtaposition the Same?

When two contradictory words are used side by side, it’s a specific type of juxtaposition called an oxymoron .

For example, when Juliet says “Parting is such sweet sorrow,” the word “sweet” is juxtaposed with the word “sorrow” to show the complexity of her love—it makes her happy and sad at the same time.

Are Character Foils a Type of Juxtaposition?

The term character foil refers to juxtaposition used between two characters whose personalities or backgrounds are starkly dissimilar.

This technique helps make each character come alive for the reader.

For example, Cinderella’s kindness is made more obvious by the fact that her stepsisters are selfish and cruel.

What Is Antithesis?

Antithesis refers to the juxtaposition of two complete opposites. This is the most overt form of juxtaposition, because it relies on pairings we're all familiar with.

Here are some common examples of antithetical pairings that are often used in literature:

• Good and evil
• Light and darkness
• Beauty and ugliness
• The old and the new
• Civilization and nature

Let’s take a look at some examples of how some successful authors have used juxtaposition in their novels.

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness [...] – in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.

In this opening paragraph, Charles Dickens shows the inequality in society before the French Revolution by contrasting the way different people experience the time period.

For some people, it’s the age of light, while for others, it’s the age of darkness.

This passage is perhaps the most famous example of juxtaposition in literature. The entire novel is full of pairs and doubles, even the title itself.

When including juxtaposition in your writing, it can be hard to think of interesting synonyms and antonyms. This is where ProWritingAid’s Word Explorer can help.

When you input a word, the tool can not only help you find synonyms, but also help you overcome your writer’s block. It does this by providing examples 14 ways to look at the word, including providing examples from popular literature.

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

The first man was small and quick, dark of face, with restless eyes and sharp, strong features. [...] Behind him walked his opposite, a huge man, shapeless of face, with large, pale eyes, and wide, sloping shoulders...

This paragraph introduces Lennie and George, the two protagonists of the story. It’s clear right away that they’re complete opposites.

Physically, this passage shows that one of these men is small and sharp, while the other is large and shapeless.

John Steinbeck will continue to juxtapose their personalities throughout the story: Lennie is innocent, while George is jaded.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Chicken and chunks of orange cooked in a cream sauce laid on a bed of pearly white grain, tiny green peas and onions [...] I try to imagine assembling this meal myself back home. Chickens are too expensive, but I could make do with a wild turkey. I’d need to shoot a second turkey to trade for an orange. Goat’s milk would have to substitute for cream. We can grow peas in the garden. I’d have to get wild onions in the woods.

This passage describes Katniss eating a lavish meal in the Capitol after having spent most of her life starving in District 12. Collins uses juxtaposition to show how much inequality there is in Panem.

Aside from the differences in what people eat, she also shows stark differences in how they dress, speak, and entertain themselves.

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

I opened up the Schumann book to the dark little piece I had played at the recital. It was on the left-hand page, “Pleading Child.” It looked more difficult than I remembered. I played a few bars, surprised at how easily the notes came back to me. And for the first time, or so it seemed, I noticed the piece on the right-hand side. It was called “Perfectly Contented.” I tried to play this one as well. It had a lighter melody but with the same flowing rhythm and turned out to be quite easy. “Pleading Child” was shorter but slower; “Perfectly Contented” was longer but faster. And after I had played them both a few times, I realized they were two halves of the same song.

This passage in The Joy Luck Club is a fantastic example of juxtaposition.

The two musical pieces the daughter plays feel very different from each other, until she realizes they’re two halves of the same song.

In some ways, the juxtaposition between these two songs represents the juxtaposition of the relationship between the mother and daughter in this book.

It’s a subtle way to create a deeper understanding of how each woman views the other.

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

The alchemist and the librarian, they couldn’t have been more different—as though Shres, the bastard god of fortune, had stood them side by side and divided his basket of gifts between them: every gift to Thyron Nero, one by one, until the very last, which he dropped in the dirt at Lazlo’s feet. To Thyron Nero: birth, wealth, privilege, looks, charm, brilliance. And to Lazlo Strange, to pick up and dust off, the one thing left over: honor.

In this final example, Laini Taylor contrasts two characters, a protagonist named Lazlo Strange and an antagonist named Thyon Nero.

We already know that Thyron Nero is a golden boy who has everything he could ever need, and that Lazlo Strange is a poor orphan who has nothing but honor.

When we see them side-by-side, however, this becomes even clearer, and sets up their relationship for the story to come.

Final Thoughts

Using juxtaposition in your writing can help create contrast that engages your readers and makes them think.

What are some examples of juxtaposition you’ve seen in your favorite books? Let us know in the comments.

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Hannah Yang

Hannah Yang is a speculative fiction writer who writes about all things strange and surreal. Her work has appeared in Analog Science Fiction, Apex Magazine, The Dark, and elsewhere, and two of her stories have been finalists for the Locus Award. Her favorite hobbies include watercolor painting, playing guitar, and rock climbing. You can follow her work on hannahyang.com, or subscribe to her newsletter for publication updates.

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Juxtaposition

Definition of juxtaposition, common examples of juxtaposition, famous examples of juxtaposition in novels and stories, difference between juxtaposition and foil.

It can be difficult to distinguish between juxtaposition and foil as literary devices . In fact, foil is a form of juxtaposition. Both of these devices are based o n implied comparisons created by the writer. However, foil is limited to the juxtaposition of characters.

Writing Juxtaposition

Writers can also reveal truths about a character through contrasting their traits with another, to achieve a foil. Juxtaposition can demonstrate that one idea or element is better when compared to another, and often readers gain a greater understanding of nuances of traits or concepts through juxtaposition.

Juxtaposition and Antithesis

Juxtaposition and oxymoron.

The difference between juxtaposition and oxymoron is mostly obscure. A juxtaposition is placing dissimilar ideas or objects or things together for the sake of contrast and comparison. However, an oxymoron shows the placing of two contradictory ideas, depicting a single and strong sense of the words which, though, seems opposite yet is strongly associated with the other word in showing true meanings. For example, a pretty ugly boy is an oxymoron as it is just a phrase . However, if it is twisted to become a juxtaposition it would be; a pretty boy has come across and an ugly boy has passed along.

Use of Juxtaposition in Sentences

Examples of juxtaposition in literature, example 1:  naming of parts (henry reed).

This is the safety-catch, which is always released With an easy flick of the thumb. And please do not let me See anyone using his finger. You can do it quite easy If you have any strength in your thumb. The blossoms Are fragile and motionless, never letting anyone see Any of them using their finger.

The juxtaposition of the parts of a weapon and parts of springtime creates a dramatic effect of tension between death and destruction and rebirth and renewal. By simply pairing these two entities side by side in the poem, Reed allows the reader to compare and contrast man-made technology meant to end life and nature’s capability of restoring and beginning life.

Example 2:  The Joy Luck Club  (Amy Tan)

I opened up the Schumann book to the dark little piece I had played at the recital. It was on the left-hand page, “Pleading Child.” It looked more difficult than I remembered. I played a few bars, surprised at how easily the notes came back to me. And for the first time, or so it seemed, I noticed the piece on the right-hand side. It was called “Perfectly Contented.” I tried to play this one as well. It had a lighter melody but with the same flowing rhythm and turned out to be quite easy. “Pleading Child” was shorter but slower; “Perfectly Contented” was longer but faster. And after I had played them both a few times, I realized they were two halves of the same song.

Example 3:  Animal Farm (George Orwell)

Twelve voices were shouting in anger, and they were all alike. No question, now , what had happened to the faces of the pigs. The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.

Rather than resulting in stark contrast, the juxtaposition of the pigs and men instead brings about an inability among the “outside” animals to distinguish between them. This has a dramatic effect in terms of the narrative since the pigs were the original leaders of the revolution on the farm and intended, at the beginning of the literary work, to differentiate themselves as much as possible from the men they believed to be their oppressors.

Example 4: Othello by William Shakespeare

Let it be so. Goodnight to everyone—and, noble signor, If virtue no delighted beauty lack, Your son-in-law is far more fair than black.

Although there are several other examples, this not-so-well-known example shows that two ideas black and fair have been juxtaposed in these lines. They have just been put side by side to compare two different ideas which are contradictory but do not contradict. They just accentuate the contrast.

Example 5: The Jungle by Upton Sinclair

When Tamoszius and his companions stop for a rest, as perforce they must, now and then, the dancers halt where they are and wait patiently. They never seem to tire; and there is no place for them to sit down if they did.

Example 6: A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift

There is likewise another great advantage in my scheme, that it will prevent those voluntary abortions, and that horrid practice of women murdering their bastard children, alas! too frequent among us, sacrificing the poor innocent babes, I doubt, more to avoid the expence than the shame, which would move tears and pity in the most savage and inhuman breast.

Synonyms of Juxtaposition

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What is a Juxtaposition? Examples, Definitions, and How to Create Them

A juxtap osition is when two ideas , characters , plot points , or other elements of a story are placed side – by – side for comparison ( or to create an interesting contrast ). It ‘s like the literary equivalent of putting two photos side – by – side and saying “ Hey , check out this cool comparison !”

Sometimes it ‘s funny , sometimes it ‘s ironic , and sometimes it ‘s just plain clever . Let’s explore more about juxtapositions, why they’re useful, and how you can create your own to spice up your writing.

Juxtaposition in Writing

Juxtaposition isn’t just a fancy word that makes one sound like a literary genius at dinner parties. It’s actually an important writing technique and literary device that helps authors create more engaging stories. Imagine talking about a hamster playing basketball with an elephant in order to contrast a local kid playing against a professional NBA athlete. The importance lies in the extreme differences to truly make an effective juxtaposition. It’s all about placing contrasting elements together to make a point or create an effect.

Why Juxtaposition Matters

Why bother with juxtapositions in writing? Well, they’re the secret sauce that adds a certain je ne sais quoi to any story.

Juxtapositions can be used to:

Types of Juxtapositions

Juxtaposition can come in many forms and flavors, like a literary smorgasbord. Here are some of the most popular types:

How to Craft Juxtapositions: A Recipe for Success

Ready to whip up some literary magic? Here’s a simple recipe for creating effective juxtapositions:

Juxtaposition Examples: A Gallery of Greatness

Time to dive into some fantastic examples of juxtaposition in literature, film, and television:

Creating Juxtapositions in Your Own Writing

Inspired to try juxtaposition in your own writing? Here’s a handy checklist to get started:

Wrapping It Up: The Power of Juxtaposition

And remember, as a wise person once said, “In writing, as in life, it’s all about the contrasts.” Or maybe that was a fortune cookie. Either way, happy juxtaposing!

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Juxtaposition: Learn What It Means and How To Use it in Your Writing

“Juxtaposition” may sound like gibberish to those who aren’t familiar with the term, but it’s a popular technique writers use for rhetorical effect. We’ll teach you what it means, and how you can use it to transform your writing from boring to captivating.

What Is “Juxtaposition”? Quick Summary

Juxtaposition is when two opposite elements (like ideas, characters, themes, etc.) are presented next to each other to create a desired effect or highlight their differences.

• She was the light in my dark world.

Juxtaposition: Table of Contents

Examples of juxtaposition, juxtaposition in literature, juxtaposition is one tool that can elevate your writing, but there’s another, juxtaposition: definition.

Juxtaposition is a literary and rhetorical device in which two contrasting elements, ideas, images, or characters are presented in close proximity to create a striking effect.

Picture a family with a relentlessly crying baby on an otherwise peaceful and quiet beach. Now imagine an extraordinarily black bear rolling around in blinding white snow. What do those two scenes have in common?

Both contain juxtaposition.

You may be wondering why writers would want to use juxtapositions in their writing. One would be to highlight differences and therefore evoke emotions, emphasize something, or grasp the audience’s attention. However, juxtaposition may also serve to connect seemingly unrelated themes. It can also help highlight the intricacies of a characteristic or concept that a reader might otherwise overlook.

In short, juxtaposition is a way to encourage readers to compare, contrast, and evaluate particular elements that are relevant to the text.

There are numerous juxtaposition themes that writers frequently use in their writing. We’ll explore a few of them below and provide examples of how they may be presented.

1. Good and Evil

Juxtaposing good and evil allows readers to explore the complexities of morality, righteousness, and wickedness.

A man is at a fork in the road; one gives him everything he thinks he wants but leads him to wickedness, and the other offers love and leads him to happiness.

2. Love and Hate

These intense feelings can be contrasted to show the intensity and transformative nature of relationships.

A young woman has a loving and kind relationship with her mother but a disastrous and hateful relationship with her father.

3. Life and Death

Writing about life and death can make readers notice the fleeting nature of life and the profound impact of mortality.

A vibrant field of bright flowers blooms in a cemetery.

4. Young and Old

Juxtaposing youth and old age can help showcase the themes of energy and innocence on the one hand and wisdom and experience on the other.

A great-great-grandmother holds her great-great-granddaughter.

5. Nature and Human Civilization

Writing about nature and human civilization helps contrast the seamless beauty and harmony of the natural world with the sometimes chaotic constructs of human society.

A flower grows through the crack of a sidewalk.

6. Innocence and Corruption

The juxtaposition of innocence and corruption can help demonstrate the contrasts between the purity and naivety that stem from innocence and the influence of corruption in the form of greed or power.

A young child is playing joyfully with dollar bills as an older man assertively takes them away and stuffs them into a piggy bank.

7. Wealth and Poverty

Writing about wealth and poverty can highlight the disparities between affluence and destitution.

Someone drives a Rolls-Royce with gold-plated rims through a poor neighborhood that seems abandoned, but it’s not.

8. War and Peace

Contrasting war and peace allows for the exploration of the grave difference between conflict and tranquility, and destruction and serenity.

A white dove flies over a battlefield.

9. Past and Present

Juxtaposing past and present can help readers see the influence of history and tradition and compare it to the demands, modernity, and progress of the present.

A digital clock sits on top of an antique grandfather clock.

10. Freedom and Confinement

Writing about freedom and confinement can juxtapose the yearning for liberation, individualism, and self-expression with the constraints of societal norms, expectations, and even systems like prisons that literally keep one confined.

A bird in a cage that’s hanging from a tree is surrounded by other free birds.

Examples of juxtaposition abound in literature. If you’re looking for some, here are a few quotes, lines, or passages from famous authors.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way—in short the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only. —Charles Dickens (A Tale of Two Cities)

War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength, —George Orwell (1984)

We adore chaos because we love to produce order. —M.C. Escher

Parting is such sweet sorrow. —William Shakespeare (Romeo and Juliet)

In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. —Albert Camus

Just like idioms and rhetorical questions , juxtaposition is an incredibly effective device that can help enhance your writing and create desired effects. That’s why it’s been used so often in the past and will continue to be used in the present and future.

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• Juxtaposition

Juxtaposition Definition

What is juxtaposition? Here’s a quick and simple definition:

Juxtaposition occurs when an author places two things side by side as a way of highlighting their differences. Ideas, images, characters, and actions are all things that can be juxtaposed with one another. For example, it's a common plot device in fairy tales such as Cinderella to juxtapose the good-natured main character with a cruel step-sibling. The differences between the characters, as well as their close relation to one another, serve to highlight the main character's good qualities.

Some additional key details about juxtaposition:

• The verb form of juxtaposition is juxtapose , as in "the author juxtaposed the protagonist's dirty, ragged clothes with the spotless interior of the wealthy villain's mansion."
• The word juxtaposition comes from the Latin juxta meaning "next" and the French poser meaning "to place." This combination suggests juxtaposition's meaning: "to place next to."

Juxtaposition Pronunciation

Here's how to pronounce juxtaposition: juck-stuh-puh- zish -uhn

Juxtaposition and Related Terms

Because juxtaposition is such a broad concept, covering the contrast created between all sorts of different things when placed in close proximity, there are a number of terms that overlap with it or fall under its broader umbrella. Three of the most common of these terms are foil , antithesis , and oxymoron .

Juxtaposition and Foils

A foil is one specific form of juxtaposition having to do with contrasts between characters. When a writer creates two characters that possess opposite characteristics, it's often with the intention of highlighting some specific about one or both of the characters by juxtaposing their qualities. Such characters are foils of one another. The tortoise and the hare, from the famous folk tale, are examples of foils.

"Juxtaposition" describes the writer's action of placing these two characters next to one another for the purposes of comparing them, while foil is a word that describes the characters themselves (the hare is a foil to the tortoise, and vice-versa).

Juxtaposition and Antithesis

Antithesis is also a specific type of juxtaposition. Antithesis is a narrower term than juxtaposition in two key ways:

• Antithesis involves opposites: The things that are contrasted in antithesis are always pretty strong and clear opposites. Juxtaposition can involve such oppositional things, but also can involve the contrast of more complicated things, like two characters or themes.
• Antithesis involves a specific grammatical structure: Antithesis is a figure of speech that involves a very specific parallel sentence structure. Juxtaposition is a literary device that simply refers to a contrast set up between two things in some way, but it does not necessarily have to involve a defined grammatical structure.

An example of antithesis is Neal Armstrong's first words when he reached on the surface of the moon:

"That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind."

This is a clear pairing of opposites, expressed in a parallel grammatical structure. In contrast, now imagine a description of Neal Armstrong's figure foregrounded against the night sky:

The tiny figure of Armstrong in his pristine white suit stood out against the expansive darkness of the universe beyond him.

This description involves juxtaposition rather than antithesis, for two reasons: it does not contain parallel grammatical structure, and the comparison goes beyond opposition. The white of the suit contrasts with the darkness of space in a clear contrast of opposites, but the sentence also contains a comparison between Armstrong's small size and the overwhelming magnitude of the universe, between the human and the non-human, even between the temporary and the eternal. These effects, which amount to a feeling of awe and loneliness, come from the choice to place Armstrong and the universe next to one another—it comes from their juxtaposition .

Juxtaposition and Oxymoron

An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which two contradictory terms or ideas are paired together in order to reveal a deeper truth. Put another way, an oxymoron uses the juxtaposition of its two words to imply something deeper than either word individually could convey.

For instance, it's an oxymoron when, in Romeo and Juliet , Juliet says that "parting is such sweet sorrow ." The juxtaposition of these two words, "sweet sorrow," captures the complexity of love and passion, that it is capable of inspiring both pain and joy at the same time.

Juxtaposition Examples

Juxtaposition in literature.

Juxtaposition is a basic tool of storytelling, as writers choose how to place their characters, settings, arguments, and images in relation to one another to achieve their aims. In this section you'll find examples of juxtaposition from fiction, poetry, non-fiction, and drama.

Juxtaposition in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

In Frankenstein , Mary Shelley creates a few jarring juxtapositions that serve to accentuate the monstrosity as well as the humanity of the Creature that Victor Frankenstein brings to life. The Creature learns to speak in part by reading Milton's Paradise Lost , and so his language is ornate and elevated, full of thee's, thy's, and thou's. The juxtaposition of this elegant, formal speech with the Creature's ugly, deformed features and terrible strength creates an uncanny, terrifying effect that, at the same time, increases the reader's understanding of the Creature's tragedy, since we see his clear intelligence.

Over the course of the novel, Shelley also juxtaposes the actions of the Creature, who eventually responds to the world's scorn with a violent urge for revenge, with those of Victor Frankenstein, whose arrogant recklessness created the Creature in the first place and whose lack of mercy or empathy condemned the Creature to lonely isolation. This juxtaposition begs the question: who is the real monster?

Juxtaposition in T.S. Eliot's "The Waste Land"

One of T.S. Eliot's most well-known poems, "The Waste Land," is a patchwork of different allusions and striking imagery , as Eliot uses juxtaposition to knit together a dizzying range of sources and ideas. Eliot juxtaposes April, a springtime month, with winter, and uses irony to reverse the reader's expectation for this comparison (calling April cruel and winter warm). There is also a second juxtaposition in the image of blooming lilacs in the "dead land," two contrasting images that bring out one another's features.

April is the cruellest month , breeding Lilacs out of the dead land , mixing Memory and desire, stirring Dull roots with spring rain. Winter kept us warm , covering Earth in forgetful snow, feeding A little life with dried tubers.

Juxtaposition in Rachel Carson's Silent Spring

In Rachel Carson's Silent Spring , one of the foundational works of the modern environmental movement, juxtaposition plays an important role in Carson's framing of her argument. The first chapter of the book, "A Fable for Tomorrow" presents a beautiful small town "in the heart of America," at first stressing its natural abundance:

Along the roads, laurels, viburnum and alder, great ferns and wildflowers delighted the traveler's eye through much of the year

Soon, though, a blight descends, and spring, which normally brings with it new life, is instead filled with eerie silence:

The roadsides, once so attractive, were now lined with browned and withered vegetation as though swept by fire.

The juxtaposition of the natural, wholesome beauty of the present with the devastation of environmental collapse is meant as a warning for Carson's readers. The title itself, Silent Spring , is a condensed version of this juxtaposition, since it's meant to signify the vanishing of songbirds.

Juxtaposition in Shakespeare's Henry IV Part 1

In Shakespeare's history play Henry IV Part 1 , a monologue of Prince Henry's reveals that Henry himself is thinking in terms of juxtaposition. In the speech, he outlines how his current reputation as a reckless youth will make his eventual "reformation" into a responsible king look even better: he imagines his changed behavior as shining "like bright metal on a sullen ground."

... nothing pleaseth but rare accidents. So, when this loose behavior I throw off And pay the debt I never promised, By how much better than my word I am, By so much shall I falsify men's hopes; And like bright metal on a sullen ground , My reformation, glittering o'er my fault, Shall show more goodly and attract more eyes Than that which hath no foil to set it off.

Juxtaposition in Film

In film, juxtaposition can come not just from contrasts and comparisons created between characters and dialogue, but also from editing together different images, so that the cut from one image to another tells a story.

Juxtaposition in Stephen Spielberg's Jaws (1975)

In Stephen Spielberg's iconic thriller, Jaws , the director uses juxtaposition to heighten the film's suspense as the massive great white shark stalks its unsuspecting prey. In quick succession, Spielberg cuts from lighthearted beach scenes (children playing on the beach, surfers paddling out to sea, and lifeguards relaxing) to underwater shots with suspenseful music, hinting at the presence of the shark. The viewer is unsure who will be the shark's target, but this juxtaposition between the cheerful world above the water and the frightening creature underneath it creates a sense of fear and anticipation of what's to come.

Juxtaposition in Photography

When a photographer composes an image, selecting what elements to include in their pictures, he or she might consider how different elements in the image will relate to one another when they are juxtaposed. This relation is part of what allows a photographer to tell a story with just a single image.

Juxtaposition in Marc Riboud's "The Flower and the Bayonet" (1967)

In this famous photograph from the era of the Vietnam War, French photographer Marc Riboud captured an image whose power comes from a striking juxtaposition. A young protester, Jan Rose Kasmir, who was 17 at the time, holds a single flower up to the line of bayonet-bearing soldiers who are attempting to control the anti-war demonstration. The juxtaposition of this fragile symbol of peace and innocence with the heavily armored soldiers (who represented the war effort) became an important image in the Vietnam protest movement.

Juxtaposition in Song

Many songwriters also make use of juxtaposition as they present images in their songs and, as in the case below, the technique can also be used to suggest conflict.

Juxtaposition in Billy Joel's "Uptown Girl"

This catchy classic by Billy Joel deals with the timeless theme of romance across class lines. In this case, Joel is the "downtown man" who is pursuing an "uptown girl," and the juxtaposition of their two worlds (the "backstreets" and the "white bread world") helps encapsulate their different backgrounds.

Uptown girl She's been living in her uptown world I bet she's never had a backstreet guy I bet her momma never told her why I'm gonna try for an uptown girl She's been living in her white bread world As long as anyone with hot blood can And now she's looking for a downtown man That's what I am

Why Do Writers Use Juxtaposition?

Juxtaposition is an important technique for any writer, and can serve a variety of purposes:

• To draw a comparison between two ideas.
• To create contrast, highlighting the difference between two elements.
• To create an absurd or surprising effect (i.e., by inserting an element into a setting where it seems wildly out of place).
• To make one element stand out (i.e., by painting a white dove on a red background).
• To bring differing perspectives together in one story.
• To suggest a link between two seemingly unrelated things or images.

Other Helpful Juxtaposition Resources

• Merriam Webster definition : This dictionary definition is a to-the-point description with simple examples.
• Hollywood Lexicon : This entry provides more explanation of the role of juxtaposition in filmmaking.
• Uptown Girl video : The original video for Billy Joel's Uptown Girl.
• Lost juxtaposition fever : This page, created by fans of the TV series Lost , tracks the many instances of juxtaposition in the show's structure.

• Figure of Speech
• Parallelism
• Foreshadowing
• Tragic Hero
• Climax (Figure of Speech)
• Falling Action
• Round Character
• Rising Action
• Point of View
• Characterization

• Quizzes, saving guides, requests, plus so much more.

Understanding Juxtaposition (Definition, Examples, How to Write)

Day and night. Good and evil. Belief and disbelief. War and peace. Happiness and sadness. All of these are nothing but everyday examples of contrast. Contradictions. Divergences.

When placed together, in a sentence , they make way for a powerful literary technique called juxtaposition – the art of comparing and contrasting two or more elements in a story to highlight their similarities and in turn their differences.

Writers use this technique to create a rhetorical effect , i.e. , to evoke an emotional response in the audience and to make an argument more compelling than it otherwise could be. It helps them bring out the uniqueness of a character in a more subtle, yet refined, way. It allows readers to understand the concepts, characters, and qualities like never before!      

In this article, we’ll discuss everything about juxtaposition – what it is, what is its definition and meaning, and how it is used in literature, art, poems, movies, and speeches to draw a comparison between two ideas.

What is Juxtaposition?

As mentioned above, Juxtaposition is a literary technique that places two or more distinctly dissimilar objects next to each other to compare, contrast, or create an interesting effect.

In simple words, juxtaposition means placing two contrasting elements next to each other so as to highlight their strengths, weaknesses, similarities, and differences.

Let’s understand it with this example. We all have read Cinderella – a story of an innocent, kind-hearted girl who’s left at the mercy of her wicked stepmother and equally cruel stepsisters until she finds her handsome prince.

In this story, we know Cinderella for her good values and virtues. But her ‘positive’ character becomes clearer to the readers due to her wicked stepsisters who are in sharp contrast to her. This is juxtaposition!

Synonyms or other words for juxtaposition include:

The antonyms (opposite words) of juxtaposition include:

When is Juxtaposition used?

Juxtaposition is used when we want to highlight similarities or contrast between two objects or elements. It helps in understanding a relationship between two elements more closely and helps writers:

• Chalk out a character in a more refined way by comparing their traits with a contrasting character.
• Draw a link between two unrelated objects, ideas, or images.
• Explore and exploit the nuances of a character.
• Draw a reader’s attention to seemingly common traits, which otherwise might just get missed.
• Show a character in a three-dimensional space, i.e., highlight both his good and the bad side.
• Add humor or absurdness to the content.
• Explain how one idea or element is better than another.

Examples of juxtaposition in everyday life

Contrast and comparison are all around us. We see it every day and in almost everything. It can be intentional or unintentional. For example:

• Old versus New: Have you seen a new construction coming up right next to a crumbling structure? In Rome, we have both the ancient Colosseum and graffiti-ridden buildings. While one is old, others are relatively new and both the structures stand in total contrast to each other. They are a classic example of juxtaposition.

Other examples could be an old man walking with a new stick, an old cup placed on a new tray, a young lady driving a vintage car, and so on and so forth. Just look around, you’ll find thousands of examples floating in front of your eyes.

• Shapes and Sizes: Our world is full of different shapes and sizes, and many times, they stand in total contrast to each other. For instance, a car. It has a rectangular body and round tire – both of which co-exist on the same vehicle but are in contrast to each other. Similarly, the bat and ball, too, are in sharp contrast to each other. While the bat is long and slender, the ball is curvy and stout.
• Single versus Happily/ unhappily married: Have you ever seen a happily married couple walking hand in hand? Just behind them, you might have noticed a bachelor passing by or a couple walking with sore looks on their face. Aren’t they in sharp contrast to each other?
• Dark versus Light : There are thousands of examples that show the juxtaposition of colors. Sunrise on a cloudy morning, day and night, light and darkness, and man and his shadow – all of them beautifully illustrate juxtaposition in life.
• Other Interesting arrangements: A rainbow showing myriad hues of colors, a budding flower against an aging leaf, trees standing tall against bushes and shrubs, and a bright moon shining in a pitch-dark night are all nature’s way of defining juxtaposition.

Examples from literature

Below are some famous examples of juxtaposition that exist in Literature:

• “Real stupidity beats artificial intelligence every time.” Hogfather by Terry Pratchett
• “Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
• “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
• “The green spoon worm has one of the most extreme size differences known to exist between male and female, the male being 200,000 times smaller than his mate. Her lifespan is a couple of years . His is only a couple of months.” Seed Magazine
• “That is hot ice, and wondrous strange snow!” A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Shakespeare

In all the above examples the authors are trying to draw a sharp contrast between two different concepts: reality versus artificial intelligence, happy families versus sad families, best time versus worst time, and so on. These contrasting concepts demonstrate the highs and the lows of life and make you stop and think for a while . And this is the main goal of juxtaposition!

Understanding Juxtaposition as a Literary Device

Literacy devices are techniques used by the writer to create an intended perception of the subject or element in the literature.

Juxtaposition is used as one of the literary techniques. Here, two concepts, ideas, characters, or places are placed near or next to each other to help the reader compare and contrast them. But as a literacy device, juxtaposition is not only about comparing two different objects or elements. Juxtaposition should have some meaning and a sense of understanding, which makes the entire literary work significant for the reader.

Let’s understand Juxtaposition in literacy through these common and famous proverbs :

Let’s see some examples of juxtaposition from famous novels and stories:

How to Create a Juxtaposition

Juxtaposition offers us the easiest way to connect elements, create a story, and make it compelling and worth remembering. Here’s how you can create juxtaposition in your story, article, painting, or any other body of work:

• Identify the main character, element, or object in your story.
• Now think of alternatives that are in sharp contrast to it and can help you highlight your character in the best possible way.
• Think of their implications and how they can best highlight your story’s character/ object.
• Choose the one that best supports your idea.

You can use the following concepts to create juxtaposition between different elements:

You can draw some understanding from the following examples:

1. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair”

The entire poem is a juxtaposition of contrasting characters and elements. The poem highlights how life is a mixture of highs and lows and how while some enjoy everything, others are left in despair.

2. Paradise Lost by John Milton

“Better to reign in Hell than to serve in Heaven.”

This is an excerpt from John Milton’s Famous poem Paradise Lost . In this poem, the poet compares God and Satan and describes how Satan is driven by arrogance when he proclaims the aforementioned lines. 

3. The Waste Land by T.S. Eliot

“April is the cruelest month, breeding

Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing

Memory and desire, stirring

Dull roots with spring rain.

Winter kept us warm, covering

Earth in forgetful snow, feeding

A little life with dried tubers.”

Here, the poet juxtaposes the month of April with Winter. He describes how April due to its pleasant weather revives life, while winters keep us cold and lifeless.

Other poems that are great examples of juxtaposition include:

• Joining the Colours by Katharine Tynan
• A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare
• Some Days by Billy Collins
• Good Night by Dylan Thomas

Artists often use the juxtaposition to accentuate concepts and imagination. Juxtaposition in art is found almost everywhere. However, some notable artists who have extensively used juxtaposition in their assemblage of work include:

TV shows are full of contrasting characters. Some examples include:

In movies too, makers use of juxtaposition to highlight their characters. For example:

Juxtaposition has also been vividly used in speeches by some of the famous orators and personalities of the world. Some examples of juxtaposition in speech include:

• “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.”  
• US President John F. Kennedy
• “We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live.”
• US President Abraham Lincoln, the Gettysburg Address
• “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”
• Neil Armstrong

Architecture

Some of our world monuments are also classic examples of juxtaposition. The examples include but are not limited to:

How to Pronounce Juxtaposition?

The word “juxtaposition” is pronounced as jux·​ta·​po·​si·​tion. It is formed by blending a Latin word, “juxta,” meaning “next,” with a French word “position.”

Common Questions

What is juxtaposition in photography.

Juxtaposition in photography involves placing two or more contrasting elements in a picture together so as to create an eye-catching, visually-appealing image. The contrast can be in relation to shape, size, color, or any other element that helps spark emotions and narrate a visual story or emphasize similarities or differences between the objects or people.

What is juxtaposition in art?

In art, the juxtaposition of different elements is used to depict contrast and elicit a response in the audience’s mind. Artists often place objects of different shapes, sizes, and colors beside each other to create a particular effect and highlight the differences and uniqueness of different objects. Writers, similarly, bring characters of different shades together to make the reader stop, think, and reconsider the meaning of the text, and life at large.    

What is juxtaposition in drawing?

Artists use juxtaposition to display different emotions. For example,

• a contrast between light and dark is used to add depth to a drawing
• different hues of colors are used to create a stunning effect
• Objects of different shapes, sizes, and textures are drawn next to each other to create visual juxtaposition.   

What is juxtaposition rhetorical?

Juxtaposition is also a rhetorical device. It places different objects or elements next to each other just for comparative purposes – to highlight the contrast between them. It helps to bring out their innate differences and reveal some surprising similarities too. This is called the rhetorical effect.

Writers use various divergent elements together to help readers compare, contrast, and understand the characters well. Some commonly used juxtapose elements to create rhetorical effect include:

Juxtaposition refers to a stark contrast between two people or things. The literary device is used to create contrast. Typically between two characters or linking elements.

Mother/father relationship is a great example of juxtaposition. In many ways, they are connected, although different.

• Juxtaposition
• Juxtaposition Definition and Examples
• 20 Illuminating Juxtaposition Examples if You’re Feeling Lost
• What is Juxtaposition? Definition and Examples of Juxtaposed Language
• What Is Juxtaposition in Art?
• When & How to Write a Juxtaposition
• Writing 101: What Is Juxtaposition? Learn About Juxtaposition in Writing With Examples

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About the author

Dalia Y.: Dalia is an English Major and linguistics expert with an additional degree in Psychology. Dalia has featured articles on Forbes, Inc, Fast Company, Grammarly, and many more. She covers English, ESL, and all things grammar on GrammarBrain.

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• What Is Juxtaposition? | Definition & Examples

What Is Juxtaposition? | Definition & Examples

Published on June 26, 2024 by Kassiani Nikolopoulou, MSc . Revised on August 26, 2024.

Juxtaposition is placing two objects, images, or ideas side by side to create a certain effect or make a point. The fact that two things are placed together highlights their differences and similarities, creating contrast. Juxtaposition is common in literature, visual arts, and public speaking.

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Table of contents

What is juxtaposition, why do writers use juxtaposition, juxtaposition examples, similar literary devices, frequently asked questions about juxtaposition.

Juxtaposition is a literary device in which a writer places two elements near or next to each other without explicitly telling us what their relationship is. Instead, the reader must draw their own conclusions about the relationship between different elements. Juxtaposition can involve ideas, themes, characters, or images.

In the previous example, the opening paragraph from A Tale of Two Cities is a juxtaposition of contrasting ideas that immediately sets the tone and background of the story: the sociopolitical tensions in Europe during the French Revolution. In addition, the title itself implies a juxtaposition of the novel’s two main settings, Paris and London.

Juxtaposition may involve polar opposites, like good and evil, light and darkness, etc.; however, this is not always the case. In literature, juxtaposition can be more subtle and can involve placing seemingly unrelated elements next to each other to highlight their unexpected connections. Alternatively, juxtaposition can be found in the contrast between a character’s inner thoughts and external actions.

Depending on the genre, writers use juxtaposition to achieve various effects:

• Emphasis. Juxtaposition is about more than just creating contrast. Its main goal is to use that contrast to highlight the differences between ideas, images, or characters. As a result, certain aspects or themes stand out.
• Depth. Juxtaposition invites the reader to interpret the relationships between ideas or characters. By comparing and contrasting ideas, the reader becomes more engaged with the text, asks questions, and discovers layers of meaning they might have missed otherwise.
• Characterization. Writers often employ juxtaposition for character development. By placing characters’ contrasting traits side by side or putting them in contrasting situations, the author reveals different aspects of their personalities.
• Persuasion. Juxtaposition can be used as a rhetorical tool to strengthen an argument. Writers or speakers place contrasting images or ideas together to draw attention to specific points, elicit an emotional response, and encourage critical thinking . By doing so, they can influence their audience, for instance, to feel empathy or engage in social justice issues.

In the play Julius Caesar by Shakespeare, Marc Anthony uses juxtaposition to turn the crowd against Brutus and convince them that killing Caesar was a dishonorable crime.

Traditional Japanese short-form poems known as haiku typically feature the juxtaposition of two images, which is intended to prompt the reader to reflect on them.

Juxtaposition is related to the following literary devices:

• Antithesis is a form of juxtaposition involving concrete binaries, like night and day, love and hate, etc. This is usually done within a parallel grammatical structure, as in the example “ To be or not to be , that is the question.” Whereas juxtaposition requires some interpretation, antithesis is obvious.
• A foil is a character whose actions or traits serve as a contrast to another character, usually the protagonist , to emphasize the differences between them. For example, Joker is a foil to Batman because they represent opposite qualities like chaos and order. By juxtaposing these characters, the author accentuates their qualities.
• A oxymoron is a figure of speech that focuses on contradictory terms within a phrase, such as “parting is such sweet sorrow.” The combination of contradictory ideas like pleasure and pain conveys a new complex meaning that would be hard to express in a single word.

The following words are near synonyms for juxtaposition in the sense of “placing two things close together for comparison, contrast, or other literary effects”:

Juxtaposition and oxymorons are both literary devices that involve contrasting elements; however, they differ in scope and function.

• In juxtaposition , a writer places two or more ideas, characters, or images side by side to highlight the differences and similarities between them. The interpretation of this relationship is up to the audience. A juxtaposition can span one line or an entire story, depending on the contrasted elements.
• An oxymoron , on the other hand, involves combining two words or ideas with opposing meanings. Unlike juxtaposition, an oxymoron always involves a degree of contradiction within the combination of terms.

In other words, juxtaposition is about placing elements so as to compare them, while an oxymoron involves the deliberate combination of contradictory terms.

Juxtaposition and contrast are both literary techniques involving the presentation of differences, however they cannot be used interchangeably.

• Juxtaposition refers to the deliberate placement of two or more things side by side for comparison or contrast. This can include words, images, or characters, and the purpose is to draw attention to specific aspects of the work.
• Contrast , on the other hand, is a broader term that refers to the noticeable differences between two things. It can be intentional or accidental and can be achieved through various means including, but not limited to, juxtaposition-like descriptions.

In short, juxtaposition is the intentional placement of things next to each other to highlight their relationship (similarity or difference), whereas contrast is a broader term referring to the observable differences between things, whether they are juxtaposed or not.

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Kassiani Nikolopoulou, MSc

Literary Devices

Literary devices, terms, and elements, juxtaposition, definition of juxtaposition, common examples of juxtaposition, difference between juxtaposition and foil.

A foil character can be seen as a special case of juxtaposition, as the definition of juxtaposition covers contrasting concepts of any type, including contrasts between characters.

Examples of Juxtaposition from Literature

IAGO: Zounds, sir, you’re robbed! For shame, put on your gown. Your heart is burst, you have lost half your soul. Even now, now, very now, an old black ram Is tupping your white ewe. Arise, arise, Awake the snorting citizens with the bell Or else the devil will make a grandsire of you. Arise, I say!

Much of the drama in Shakespeare’s play Othello hinges on the bigoted attitudes that characters have about the interracial relationship between Othello the Moor and Desdemona, a Venetian beauty. There are several instances throughout the play that juxtapose Othello’s dark skin with Desdemona’s light skin, implying a moral judgment about the divergent natures of the two lovers. In this excerpt, the villain Iago refers to Othello as “an old black ram” and Desdemona as a “white ewe” to inflame the anger of Desdemona’s father. Though Othello was well respected in Venice before his relationship with Desdemona, the juxtaposition of his darkness with Desdemona’s lightness casts a shadow over Othello’s character and there is an assumption that he has ruined her innocence.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way – in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.

Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.

This is another famous opening line to a novel. Tolstoy posits a difference between happy families and unhappy families, and the ways in which they function. Whether the juxtaposition leads to a true statement is highly debatable, yet the quote is often repeated. This line creates the desire in the reader to know the exact way in which the unhappy family in the novel is unhappy.

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

(“The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost)

Test Your Knowledge of Juxtaposition

3. What is the function of the juxtaposition of Othello’s darker skin color with Desdemona’s lighter skin color? A. To imply that Othello is somehow evil while Desdemona is completely innocent. B. To incite the anger of Desdemona’s father and other Venetian statesmen. C. To create suspicion about Othello’s moral character. D. All of the above. [spoiler title=”Answer to Question #3″] Answer: D is the correct answer.[/spoiler]

Exploring Juxtaposition: Creative Examples and How to Use Them in Blogging [In 2024]​

• October 26, 2023
• Blogging , Learn

In the world of writing, there is a powerful technique called juxtaposition that can elevate your content. Juxtaposition is the art of placing two contrasting elements side by side to emphasize their differences. It can add depth and complexity to your writing, making it more engaging for your readers. 

Whether you’re writing a blog post, an article, or a novel, understanding and using juxtaposition can take your writing to the next level. Let’s dive into the concept and explore some creative examples and how to use them in blogging.

Juxtaposition in writing can elevate your blog content, making it more engaging and memorable for readers. By placing contrasting elements side by side, you create a powerful effect that highlights differences, adds depth, and evokes emotions. Here are six key takeaways on using juxtaposition in blog writing:

• Contrast to create meaning: Juxtaposition uses contrast to convey a deeper message or highlight the differences between two concepts or objects.
• Explore different forms: Juxtaposition can take various forms, such as antithesis, foil, or oxymoron, and can be used to contrast characters, develop plotlines, or inject humor and irony.
• Enhance arguments: In non-fiction writing, juxtaposition can be used to create compelling arguments and highlight contrasting ideas.
• Identify main points: When using juxtaposition in blog writing, identify your main points or thesis and consider alternative or opposing ideas to add the necessary contrast.
• Create memorable moments: Juxtaposition can help create memorable moments in your writing by placing contrasting elements together, setting up for a powerful payoff later on.
• Experiment and have fun: Embrace the creative possibilities of juxtaposition in your blog writing and have fun with it. Use this technique to captivate your readers and convey your message with impact.

Understanding the concept of juxtaposition in writing

To fully grasp the concept of juxtaposition, it’s important to note that it involves placing two distinct and dissimilar things together. By juxtaposing these contrasting elements, you create a stark contrast and draw attention to the differences between them.

Here are some key points to understand about juxtaposition in writing:

• Enhancing the relationship between elements:  Juxtaposition can be used to explore the relationship between two elements in your writing. By placing them side by side, you allow the reader to see how these elements interact and influence each other.
• Adding complexity:  Juxtaposition can reveal different facets of a single thing. By presenting two contrasting sides or traits of a character or an idea, you can create a more nuanced and complex portrayal.
• Highlighting contrasts:  Juxtaposition is an effective way to highlight the differences and similarities between two elements. This can create a profound impact on the reader and evoke emotional responses.
• Making a point:  Juxtaposition can be used to convey a message or lesson. By contrasting two things, you can subtly suggest that one is better than the other or highlight the consequences of certain actions.

Now that we have a basic understanding of juxtaposition, let’s explore some creative examples and how to use them in blogging to make your content more compelling and thought-provoking. 

Examples of Juxtaposition in Literature

Juxtaposition is a powerful literary technique that enriches storytelling by placing contrasting elements side by side. By examining famous literary works, we can appreciate the creative use of juxtaposition and understand its impact on the narrative.

Exploring famous literary works that employ juxtaposition

• Juxtaposes “the best of times” and “the worst of times” to highlight the stark contrast between the wealthy and impoverished during the French Revolution.
• Juxtaposes the prejudice and injustice faced by Tom Robinson, a black man, with the innocence and moral fortitude of Scout and Jem Finch, emphasizing the complexity of the human experience.
• Juxtaposes the destructive nature of censorship and conformity with the transformative power of literature, highlighting the importance of free thought and individuality.

Analyzing the effects of juxtaposition on storytelling

• Juxtaposing conflicting ideas or characters heightens dramatic tension and adds depth to the narrative, engaging readers and keeping them invested in the story.
• Juxtaposition enables authors to highlight the differences between two elements, whether it be characters, settings, or themes, allowing readers to explore the complexities and nuances within the text.
• By placing opposing concepts side by side, juxtaposition can underscore the overarching themes and messages of a literary work, enhancing the readers’ understanding and interpretation.

Incorporating juxtaposition in blog writing can make your content more compelling and thought-provoking. By utilizing contrasting elements, you can captivate readers and convey complex ideas with greater impact. 

Juxtaposition in Visual Arts

As an artist, exploring juxtaposition in your work can lead to visually striking and thought-provoking pieces. Whether you’re a painter, photographer, or work in other visual mediums, understanding how to effectively use juxtaposition can elevate your creative expression.

Examining the use of juxtaposition in paintings, photography, and other visual mediums

In the world of visual arts, juxtaposition refers to the act of placing two or more contrasting elements side by side to create a visual contrast. This technique allows artists to highlight the differences between these elements and create a sense of tension or harmony.

For example, in a painting, juxtaposing vibrant colors with muted tones can evoke a sense of drama or emphasize certain elements of the composition. In photography, juxtaposing different textures or scales can create visually captivating images that draw viewers in.

How visual juxtaposition creates contrast and impact

Visual juxtaposition serves as a powerful tool for artists to create contrast and impact in their work. By placing two contrasting elements together, artists can amplify the visual impact of each element and convey a deeper message or emotion.

Some creative examples of visual juxtaposition include:

• Juxtaposing animate and inanimate objects: This can create a sense of surprise or even anthropomorphism, blurring the lines between reality and imagination.
• Contrasting scale: Playing with the size of objects in relation to each other can create a dynamic composition and draw attention to specific details.
• Juxtaposing black and white elements: The contrast between black and white can create a striking visual effect and emphasize different aspects of a composition.
• Contrasting emotions: Juxtaposing elements that evoke contrasting emotions, such as joy and sadness or peace and chaos, can create a powerful emotional impact.
• Contrasting architecture: Placing modern and classic architectural structures together can highlight the passage of time and evoke a sense of nostalgia or progress.

To learn more about the use of juxtaposition in visual arts, you can explore the  Wikipedia  page on juxtaposition.

Exploring juxtaposition in your own work can open up new avenues for creative expression and make your art more engaging and memorable to viewers. 

Juxtaposition in Blogging

Exploring Juxtaposition: Creative Examples and How to Use Them in Blogging

Juxtaposition is a powerful technique that can add depth and impact to your blog writing. By combining contrasting elements or ideas side by side, you can create a striking effect that captures readers’ attention and makes your content more engaging. 

Whether you’re writing about fashion, travel, or any other topic, incorporating juxtaposition can elevate your blog posts to the next level.

Utilizing juxtaposition techniques to enhance blog content

There are various ways you can incorporate juxtaposition in your blog writing to make it more compelling:

• Pair opposing ideas: By juxtaposing two contrasting concepts or viewpoints, you can create a thought-provoking effect that encourages readers to consider different perspectives. For example, in a fashion blog, you can compare and contrast minimalist style with maximalist fashion choices.
• Combine different visuals: Incorporating contrasting images or design elements in your blog posts can create visual interest and draw the reader’s eye. For instance, in a travel blog, you can pair vibrant, bustling cityscapes with serene, natural landscapes to highlight the diverse experiences of a destination.
• Contrast emotions or experiences: Juxtaposing contrasting emotions or experiences can deepen the impact of your blog writing. You can create tension by contrasting joyful moments with moments of sadness or highlight the excitement of trying something new against the comfort of familiarity.

Tips and strategies for incorporating juxtaposition in blog writing

Here are some tips and strategies to effectively incorporate juxtaposition in your blog writing:

• Plan your content: Identify the key elements or ideas you want to juxtapose in your blog post. This will help you create a clear structure and ensure a seamless flow of ideas.
• Use vivid language: Employ descriptive and evocative language to bring out the contrasting elements in your writing. Use bold text to emphasize the opposing concepts and create visual impact.
• Provide examples and evidence: Support your juxtaposition with relevant examples and evidence. This will make your arguments more persuasive and help readers understand the significance of the contrasts you’re presenting.
• Create a balanced narrative: While juxtaposition is about contrasting elements, it’s important to maintain a balance in your blog writing. Ensure that the contrasts serve a purpose and contribute to the overall coherence and message of your content.

By leveraging the power of juxtaposition, you can create unique and impactful blog posts that resonate with your readers. So, embrace this creative technique and explore its possibilities in your blogging journey.

Juxtaposition and Emotional Impact

In the world of blogging, the creative use of juxtaposition can have a powerful impact on your readers. By pairing contrasting elements or concepts, you can create a stronger emotional reaction and make your content more memorable. 

Juxtaposition allows you to emphasize certain ideas or themes, highlight differences, and evoke specific emotions in your readers.

How juxtaposition evokes emotional responses in readers

When you strategically place contrasting elements side by side, you can create a heightened sense of tension, surprise, or irony. For example, juxtaposing a dark scene with a humorous line or a tragic event with a hopeful message can amplify the emotional impact of both elements. 

Readers are drawn to these unexpected combinations, which can evoke a range of emotions such as joy, sadness, shock, or empathy.

Case studies on the emotional effects of juxtaposition in blogging

To better understand the impact of juxtaposition in blogging, let’s explore some real-life case studies that highlight its emotional effects:

• “The Power of Contrasts: Love and Loss”: This blog post juxtaposes heartwarming stories of love and heart-wrenching tales of loss. By juxtaposing these contrasting emotions, the writer creates a truly powerful and emotional experience for the reader, leaving a lasting impact.
• “The Unresolved: Hope and Despair”: In this blog post, the writer explores the theme of hope and despair by juxtaposing stories of individuals who have overcome great adversity and stories of those who have succumbed to despair. The stark contrast between these experiences evokes a profound emotional response in the reader.
• “The Light and the Dark: Beauty in Imperfection”: Through a series of visually stunning photographs, this blog post juxtaposes images of beauty and imperfection. The contrasting elements create a thought-provoking experience for the reader, challenging them to redefine their perceptions of beauty.

Juxtaposition in blogging can be a powerful tool for creating emotional connections with your readers. By strategically pairing contrasting elements, you can evoke specific emotions, leave a lasting impact, and make your content more engaging and memorable. 

So, don’t be afraid to explore the creative possibilities of juxtaposition in your blogging journey! 

Juxtaposition and Humor

In the world of blogging, incorporating humor can make your content more engaging and enjoyable for readers. One technique that can add a touch of humor to your blog posts is juxtaposition. Juxtaposition is the art of placing two contrasting ideas, concepts, or objects side by side in order to create a humorous effect.

Exploring the role of juxtaposition in creating humor in blog posts

Juxtaposition allows you to highlight the differences between two things and create unexpected connections. By using contrasting elements, you can create humorous scenarios that grab your readers’ attention and elicit a laugh. 

Whether you’re writing a personal blog or a professional one, incorporating juxtaposition can add a unique and entertaining twist to your content.

Here are some ways you can use juxtaposition to add humor to your blog posts:

• Unexpected Contrasts: Pair two ideas or objects that are vastly different from each other. The stark contrast will catch your readers off guard and make them laugh.
• Oxymorons: Use words or phrases that seem contradictory, like “bittersweet” or “icy hot,” to create humorous wordplay.
• Foil Characters: Introduce characters with opposite qualities or personalities who play off each other. The contrast between their behaviors or attitudes can create comedic situations.
• Memory Tags: Use juxtaposition to create memorable moments in your blog posts. By placing two contrasting elements together, you can make a certain word or object stand out, setting it up for a humorous payoff later on.
• Timing and Delivery: Just like in stand-up comedy, timing is key. Deliver your humorous juxtaposition with confidence and give your readers time to process and appreciate the humor.

Examples of humorous juxtaposition in popular blogs

Many successful bloggers have mastered the art of juxtaposition to add humor to their writing. Here are a few examples:

• The Blog of Unnecessary Quotation Marks: This blog hilariously highlights the misuse of quotation marks in everyday signage and documents. By juxtaposing the intended meaning with the actual use of quotation marks, the blog creates humorous misunderstandings.
• The Oatmeal: This popular webcomic and blog frequently uses juxtaposition to create humorous and relatable situations. Whether it’s comparing the behavior of cats and dogs or illustrating the struggles of everyday life, the Oatmeal’s use of contrasting elements adds a comedic edge to their content.
• Hyperbole and a Half: This blog combines humorous anecdotes and illustrations to explore everyday situations and the absurdity of life. By juxtaposing relatable experiences with exaggerated storytelling and visuals, the author creates laugh-out-loud moments.

So, if you’re looking to inject some humor into your blog posts, consider exploring the power of juxtaposition. By carefully crafting contrasting elements and delivering them with impeccable timing, you can create content that entertains and engages your readers.

Juxtaposition and Symbolism

When it comes to creating impactful and engaging blog content, incorporating juxtaposition can be a powerful tool. Juxtaposition, the placement of two contrasting elements side by side, can add depth and complexity to your writing, making it more memorable for your readers. It is often used in combination with symbolism to convey a deeper meaning or to create visual and emotional contrasts in your blog posts.

Analyzing the symbolic significance of juxtaposition in blog writing

Juxtaposition and symbolism go hand in hand when it comes to creating thought-provoking blog content. By placing two contrasting ideas or images side by side, you can create a visual and conceptual tension that captures your readers’ attention. 

For example, using the contrast between light and darkness, wealth and poverty, or nature and technology can help convey a specific message or theme in your blog posts.

Using juxtaposition and symbolism effectively can help you convey complex ideas, challenge conventional thinking, and evoke emotional responses from your readers. It adds layers of meaning and depth to your writing, making it more engaging and memorable.

How juxtaposition enhances the overall message and theme

Juxtaposition allows you to create vivid comparisons and contrasts in your blog writing, which can enhance the overall message and theme you want to convey. By juxtaposing different ideas, concepts, or images, you can highlight their differences or similarities, provoke thought, and invite your readers to make connections.

To effectively use juxtaposition in your blog writing, consider the following techniques:

• Contrast characters or situations: By juxtaposing two contrasting characters or situations, you can highlight their differences or similarities, and explore deeper themes or conflicts.
• Create visual contrasts: Incorporate visuals or descriptions that juxtapose contrasting elements, such as colors, textures, or settings, to create visual impact and evoke specific emotions.
• Use contrasting language or imagery: Play with contrasting words, phrases, or symbolic imagery to create a dynamic and layered narrative that captures your readers’ attention.

By incorporating juxtaposition and symbolism in your blog writing, you can create content that is more engaging, thought-provoking, and memorable. Make sure to use these techniques strategically to enhance your overall message and theme, and to create a lasting impact on your readers.

To learn more about the concept of juxtaposition and how it can be used in various forms of art, literature, and photography, you can visit the  Wikipedia page on juxtaposition . 

Using Juxtaposition to Engage Readers

In the world of blogging, creating engaging content is key to attracting and retaining readers. One powerful technique for capturing attention is the use of juxtaposition.

 Juxtaposition involves placing two contrasting elements side by side, creating a striking and thought-provoking effect. By employing this creative strategy, bloggers can make their content more compelling and memorable.

To better understand the concept of juxtaposition and its potential applications in blogging, let’s explore some case studies of successful blog posts that have utilized this technique.

Case studies on successful blog posts that employ juxtaposition:

• “10 Must-Try Healthy Dessert Recipes for Guilt-Free Indulgence”

This blog post cleverly juxtaposes the concepts of “dessert” and “healthy” to create an intriguing and seemingly contradictory combination. By showcasing delicious dessert recipes that prioritize nutritious ingredients and mindful preparation, the author captivates readers who are seeking guilt-free indulgence. 

The juxtaposition of these two seemingly opposing ideas provides a fresh perspective on traditional notions of dessert, ultimately piquing readers’ curiosity and driving engagement.

• “The Fine Line Between Fear and Excitement: Harnessing the Power of Adrenaline”

In this thought-provoking blog post, the author juxtaposes the emotions of fear and excitement to explore their interconnected nature. By demonstrating how these seemingly opposite emotions share a common thread of adrenaline, the article challenges readers’ preconceived notions and encourages them to embrace exhilarating experiences. 

The juxtaposition of fear and excitement creates an impactful narrative that evokes a range of emotions, immersing readers in the subject matter and fostering a deeper connection.

• “The Art of Balancing Work and Play: Lessons from Successful Entrepreneurs”

This blog post employs the juxtaposition of “work” and “play” to provide valuable insights into achieving a harmonious work-life balance. By showcasing successful entrepreneurs who have mastered the art of balancing their professional and personal lives, the author offers practical tips and inspiration for readers to follow suit. 

The juxtaposition serves to highlight the inherent tension between work and play, encouraging readers to reevaluate their priorities and strive for a more fulfilling and sustainable lifestyle.

Juxtaposition is a powerful tool that can elevate blog content, capturing readers’ attention and fostering deeper engagement. By skillfully juxtaposing contrasting elements and ideas, bloggers can create compelling narratives that challenge conventional thinking and evoke a strong emotional response. Whether it’s contrasting concepts, opposing emotions, or conflicting perspectives, incorporating juxtaposition into blog posts is a powerful way to make your content stand out and leave a lasting impression.

Remember to always consider your target audience and the purpose of your blog when using juxtaposition. Striking the right balance and ensuring the contrast serves a purpose will help you create impactful and memorable content that keeps readers coming back for more. 

Exploring juxtaposition in blog writing can elevate your content and engage your readers on a deeper level. By contrasting two ideas or images side by side, you create contrast, emphasize similarities, and evoke emotions. 

Juxtaposition can be used to create conflict, highlight differences, or emphasize certain aspects of your writing. It adds depth and complexity to your blog posts, making them more memorable and impactful.

Key takeaways on using juxtaposition in blog writing:

• Juxtaposition is a literary device that uses contrast to create meaning.
• It can be used to highlight the differences or similarities between two concepts or objects.
• Juxtaposition can be used in various forms, such as antithesis, foil, or oxymoron.
• It can be used to contrast characters, develop plotlines, or inject humor and irony into your writing.
• Juxtaposition can also be used in non-fiction writing to create compelling arguments or highlight contrasting ideas.
• When using juxtaposition in blog writing, identify your main points or thesis, consider alternative or opposing ideas, and add the contrast that supports your desired point.

By mastering the art of juxtaposition, you can captivate your readers, make your writing more memorable, and effectively convey your message. So, go ahead and experiment with this powerful literary device in your blog posts to create impactful and engaging content.

Now that you have a better understanding of juxtaposition and how to use it in blog writing, you can start implementing this creative technique to enhance your content.

Javier is a graduate of the University of Dublin. He has been in the digital marketing space for over decade and has worked with E-commerce & digital space. He is currently in charge of blog editor at writertag.com and is passionate about creating software review that create value for user.

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What Is Juxtaposition? Definition and How to Use Opposite Concepts in Writing

by Fija Callaghan

Fija Callaghan is an author, poet, and writing workshop leader. She has been recognized by a number of awards, including being shortlisting for the H. G. Wells Short Story Prize. She is the author of the short story collection Frail Little Embers , and her writing can be read in places like Seaside Gothic , Gingerbread House , and Howl: New Irish Writing . She is also a developmental editor with Fictive Pursuits. You can read more about her at fijacallaghan.com .

Powerful contrasts are at the heart of good storytelling. You’ve probably seen juxtaposition used in your favorite novels, films, poems, and short stories, even if you didn’t recognize it. Using juxtaposition effectively can elevate a mediocre scene into something evocative and memorable.

We’ll help you get started by giving you an easy juxtaposition definition, illustrating the different ways juxtaposition can be used in a story, and providing some tips, tricks, and examples from literature.

What is juxtaposition?

Juxtaposition is a literary device in which two contrasting or seemingly contradictory elements are placed close together to draw attention to their differences. This might be something like a cozy cottage contrasted against a harsh wartorn landscape. Writers can use juxtaposition to enhance the mood or theme of a story.

This might be something like love and war, or light and darkness, contrasted together to create a broader thematic arc for your story. Any time you contrast two or more things side by side, you’re using juxtaposition.

Some examples of juxtaposition might include two characters with wildly different personalities—one grumpy and pessimistic, and the other cheerful and optimistic; or, juxtaposing a character against a setting—for instance, a grumpy and pessimistic character on a bright summer’s day.

In both cases, the comparison between two elements or contrasting concepts makes the attributes of each one feel more vivid.

This juxtaposition definition is all you need to get started with contrasting two things for rhetorical effect. Now let’s explore it in more detail!

Why do writers love juxtaposition?

Juxtaposition draws the reader’s attention to certain traits and highlights them even more. We see this all the time in our most beloved fairy tales. One classic example of juxtaposition is in Cinderella : our heroine is treated like dirt and dressed in rags before bippity-boppiting her way into the prince’s arms with a snazzy new ball gown and updo.

By putting these extreme settings side by side, the stark contrast of poverty and seclusion becomes even more devastating, and the grand ball seems even more decadent in comparison. The writer has emphasized these two extremes by showing them side by side.

Another example might be if you were writing a tragic scene for your story where a character is killed off. You’ll want your scene to be evocative enough that the reader will feel it in their gut, and a great way to do this is through juxtaposition. You can enhance the tragic by also enhancing the comedic or optimistic—for example, your doomed character wins a competition, or patches things up with an estranged loved one, or finally earns the thing they’ve always wanted.

By placing positive feelings in your story right before negative ones, each will seem more intense and emotional by comparison.

If you’re struggling to make a scene feel more powerful, ask yourself what sort of emotion you want the reader to be feeling in that moment. Then, see if you can find a way to incorporate the opposite feeling in juxtaposition.

Types of juxtaposition

When writers talk about juxtaposition as a literary device, they’re actually referring to a broad umbrella literary technique for a range of different comparative tools. Here are some specific literary devices that fall under the heading of juxtaposition.

1. Antithesis

Antithesis means using two opposite words, phrases, or ideas side by side . Antithesis is often used at the line level rather than at the broader story level. This makes it a beloved device in poetry—but it can be just as effective in fiction, too.

A famous example of antithesis is in Charles Dickens’ novel about the French revolution, A Tale of Two Cities . The novel begins: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness.” This famous opening line creates antithesis by juxtaposing the opposing ideas of best and worst, wisdom and foolishness.

2. Oxymoron

Another of juxtaposition’s literary terms, oxymoron is taking two contradictory words and using them together to communicate a deeper meaning . This might be something like “virtual reality,” “bittersweet,” or “deafening silence.”

Although these phrases all seem like they should be paradoxical, they are all true in their own way and communicate a truth to the reader. You can use oxymorons in poetry or in prose to add humor or poignancy (or sometimes both!).

3. Foil characters

A foil refers to a contrasting character , and is one of the most popular ways to use juxtaposition in a story. This technique uses opposite attributes to highlight differences between each person .

For example, Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan in The Great Gatsby are foils of each other; one comes from old money and is greedy and arrogant, while the other is self-made and kind with an open heart. Putting a foil character and the main character side by side makes Tom’s prejudice and Gatsby’s open-mindedness clearer for the reader.

Sometimes foil characters will be the hero and the antagonist, but not always; they might be friends or lovers with very different but complementary personality traits. This is a cornerstone of romance novels.

Examples of juxtaposition in literature

Literary works by writers across the ages have used juxtaposition to enhance character, mood, and theme. Let’s look at some effective examples of juxtaposition throughout literature.

The Prince and the Pauper , by Mark Twain

Mark Twain’s The Prince and the Pauper is one of the most famous rags-to-riches stories of all time, launching a thousand imitations for all ages. There’s a reason this classic story archetype works so well: juxtaposition.

This story follows a pair of identical young boys: a prince who is heir to the throne of all England, and a ragtag urchin from an impoverished family. Twain uses the greatest possible class divide to make Prince Edward’s station seem even more entitled, and the young Tom’s lot in life seem even more depressing in comparison. The juxtaposition in this story draws attention to the broad inequality that was present in England at the time in which the story was set.

This is a good example of how you can juxtapose two concepts or elements to encourage readers to look at the world in another way.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream , by William Shakespeare

Shakespeare loved using juxtaposition in his writing, because it brings a poetry and musicality to his plays. In A Midsummer Night’s Dream , Theseus, the Duke of Athens, reads a description of a one-act play to be performed:

“A tedious brief scene of young Pyramus And his love Thisbe, very tragical mirth.” “Merry” and “tragical”? “Tedious” and “brief”? That is hot ice and wondrous strange snow! How shall we find the concord of this discord?

He asks, how can a scene be both tedious and brief? How can tragedy be funny? He uses contrasts in the form of some oxymoronic phrases—“hot ice and wondrous strange snow” to illustrate that these things should never go together.

In response, Philostrate, the Master of Revels, explains that though the play is short, it’s so badly written that it seems to go on forever; and though it’s tragic, the acting is so terrible that it becomes humorous.

“Chivalry,” by Neil Gaiman

This short story (which you can and should read for free online, here! ) uses juxtaposition brilliantly with two completely contrasting characters, as well as juxtaposition of formal and casual language, and juxtaposition of the grandiose and the mundane. Here’s an example of Galadd, knight of the round table, speaking with a little old pensioner:

“This,” said Galaad, “is the sword Balmung, forged by Wayland Smith in the dawn times. Its twin is Flamberge. Who wears it is unconquerable in war, and invincible in battle. Who wears it is incapable of a cowardly act or an ignoble one. Set in its pommel is the sardonynx Bircone, which protects its possessor from poison slipped into wine or ale, and from the treachery of friends.” Mrs. Whitaker peered at the sword. “It must be very sharp,” she said, after a while. “It can slice a falling hair in twain. Nay, it could slice a sunbeam,” said Galaad proudly. “Well, then, maybe you ought to put it away,” said Mrs. Whitaker. “Don’t you want it?” Galaad seemed disappointed. “No, thank you,” said Mrs. Whitaker. It occurred to her that her late husband, Henry, would have quite liked it. He would have hung it on the wall in his study next to the stuffed carp he had caught in Scotland, and pointed it out to visitors.

Gaiman uses the contrast between the grandiosity of the noble knight wielding an awesome sword, and the mundanity a nice old woman hanging it next to a stuffed carp, to great comedic effect.

Ways to use juxtaposition in your writing

As you can see from those juxtaposition examples, juxtaposition is one of the most popular literary devices in a writer’s toolbox. Now that we’ve given you a few examples to show you how it looks on the page, you can start using contrast in your own story!

Here are some different ways you can use juxtaposition to contrast characters, settings, ideas, or abstract concepts to create a more emotionally resonant story for your readers.

Create atomosphere by contrasting setting

Setting plays a big role in a story , and it’s one of the most effective places in which writers use juxtaposition. You can use juxtaposed places in order to enhance your theme, your protagonist’s character arc, or both.

For example, maybe part of your character’s journey involves leaving a big, metropolitan city behind and moving to a small town. There’s a great opportunity here to play with contrast—show the city being bright, loud, hectic, sharp, full of danger and abrasive ninety-degree angles. Then your small town can be full of soft edges, open fields, and slow living. By showing these two things juxtaposed side by side, the reader gets a broader sense of how they differ and how those differences affect the character’s journey.

You can also use contrasting settings on a smaller scale, such as one character’s dirty studio apartment and another’s opulent mansion, or on a larger scale, such as two opposing time periods of history.

Enhance drama with contrasting characters

Foil characters, as we saw above, are some of the best ways to use juxtaposition in your writing. Think about the aspects you want to highlight in your protagonist, and then see if there’s a way to highlight the opposite traits in another character.

This might be something external, such as physical stature, family dynamics, or living conditions; or it might be something internal, like objectives, personality traits, or coping mechanisms in times of hardship.

For example, you could create two foil characters in a university setting by having them approach their studies in different ways. One might be a meticulous planner who outlines everything in bullet points and color-coordinated pens, beginning the very day a project is assigned, while the other procrastinates until the last minute and then churns the project out in one go at three o’clock in the morning.

Through these juxtaposed foil characters you could explore themes like ambition, adaptability, and work-life balance.

Meta: Are you wondering what juxtaposition is or how to use it in your writing? Let’s look at the definition of juxtaposition, with helpful juxtaposition examples.

Engage readers with contrasting imagery

Using juxtaposition in small, scene-level moments can be a powerful way to engage readers with your story. If you want to heighten the emotional impact of a scene, think about ways you can use to compare different subjects or ideas.

For example, you could show a devastating car crash in front of a pristine high-rise office building—an image of meticulous order against an image of uncontrolled chaos. Or you could show a young, hopeful woman striking up a conversation with a disenchanted elderly one—an image of youth against an image of old age.

Think about what you want your reader to focus on in the scene, and look for ways to use juxtaposed images that highlight those traits.

Add subtlety with contrasting tone

Things like the weather, the atmosphere, or even word choices can give a distinctive tone to your scene. Juxtaposing these ideas is a great way to grab your reader’s attention.

One example might be a lucrative business deal being made against a backdrop of a ferocious storm. Although the characters might use positive, excited language, the juxtaposition between them and the weather gives a new facet to the scene and foreshadows what’s to come .

Or, you could have your villain commit dark and unfeeling crimes while singing a favorite romantic pop song—this is a popular trick you’ll often see in films. This use of juxtaposition makes the villain’s actions seem even colder and more inhumane.

Use juxtaposition to give dimension to your story

Juxtaposition is one of the great unsung heroes of literature. Using it effectively will elevate your story to the next level—every time. Now that you know how juxtaposition works in writing, you can use it to bring new dimension to your characters, enhance powerful themes, explore complex relationships, and bring your settings to life. Sometimes the smallest contrast can make all the difference.

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What is Juxtaposition?

Find out what a juxtaposition is, the effect that juxtaposition has on readers, and how you can analyse juxtaposition in any English exam, whether you’re studying for AQA GCSE English Literature Paper 1, or preparing for CIE IGCSE Language Paper 1. We also include some helpful literary examples along with our expert analysis.

English Content Creator

14 August 2024

• 1 . What is juxtaposition?
• 2 . Etymology of the word juxtaposition
• 3 . Why do writers use juxtapositions?
• 4 . Types of juxtaposition
• 5 . Examples of juxtapositions and how to analyse them
• 6 . Further reading

What is juxtaposition?

Juxtaposition is a literary device that creates meaning by contrasting two or more things. When words and ideas are juxtaposed, they are placed side by side in order to emphasise the similarities and differences between them. It’s a common technique in poetry, literature, and visual art, but it is also one that we use all the time in everyday language. If you have ever told somebody that they are “making a mountain out of a molehill”, then you have juxtaposed — perhaps even without realising! 

Importantly, the words and ideas that are being juxtaposed do not need to be direct opposites, and sometimes the differences can be more subtle. For example, the opposite of an “old dog” is not a “new trick”, but the expression “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” juxtaposes the two concepts to describe how difficult it can be for somebody to adjust to a new way of doing things.

Etymology of the word juxtaposition

The word “juxtaposition” is itself a juxtaposition of different ideas. It originates from the Latin words juxta (“near”; “next to”) and positus (“arrangement”; “place”), so it roughly translates as “to place next to”. 

Why do writers use juxtapositions?

Juxtaposition is used in many different ways in English literature: writers can juxtapose words, images, characters, and settings to achieve a whole range of purposes, and the effect of juxtaposition on the reader depends entirely on the ideas that are being contrasted. Sometimes, juxtaposition can be used to create moments of comedy, as in this line from Hogfather, by Terry Pratchett:

“Education had been easy. Learning things had been harder” — Hogfather, Terry Pratchett

Here, Pratchett juxtaposes apparently similar terms in order to make the point that one’s level of education does not always indicate how much they actually know about life.

Elsewhere, juxtaposition can be used to contrast ideas in ways that highlight the themes underlying an entire text. For example:

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness” — A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens

Dickens begins A Tale of Two Cities with a long sentence made up entirely of juxtapositions that parallel life and society in London and Paris around the time of the French Revolution. In doing so, he places the novel’s central theme of social inequality at the front and centre.  

Types of juxtaposition

Juxtaposition is a broad “umbrella” term that covers several different literary terms that pair ideas or place them up against one another. These include:

Examples of juxtapositions and how to analyse them

Like analysis of other language techniques, it is always important to comment on the effects of the juxtapositions you find in your texts, not simply to spot them. Consider the types of meaning that writers are trying to convey when they use the juxtaposition, and think about how contrasting terms or ideas might relate to the text as a whole.

Further reading

For study guides on how to analyse juxtaposition in examination texts, and for writing tips on how best to include juxtapositions in your exam answers and creative writing, take a look at our comprehensive revision notes below. All our notes are course-specific, so everything learners need to ace their exams is in one place!

GCSE English Literature revision notes 

GCSE English Language revision notes

IGCSE English Literature revision notes

IGCSE English Language revision notes

A Level English Literature revision notes 

For a detailed glossary covering all the best literary techniques and language devices you could ever need (including alliteration, assonance, foreshadowing, hyperbole, metaphor, onomatopoeia, oxymoron, pathetic fallacy, personification, simile and more than a hundred more), check out our list of Top literary devices , complete with student-friendly definitions and examples.

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Written by James Alsop

James is a researcher, writer and educator, who taught English to GCSE, A Level and IB students for ten years in schools around the UK, and loves nothing more than sharing his love of books and teaching! With a BA in English, an MA in Shakespeare Studies, and a PhD in early modern drama from the University of Exeter, he has a special interest in teaching Shakespeare.

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• Literary Terms
• Juxtaposition
• Definition & Examples
• When & How to Write a Juxtaposition

I. What is Juxtaposition?

Juxtaposition (pronounced juhk-st uh -p uh – zish – uh- n) is the placement of two or more things side by side, often in order to bring out their differences. Imagine a man walking a well-groomed dog on a pink leash on one hand and a rough Rottweiler on a spiked collar on the other hand. The juxtaposition could be shocking, humorous, or just plain strange. Regardless, this literary term calls attention to two distinctly different things by placing them right beside one another, or juxtaposing them.

For example:

All’s fair in love and war

In this familiar adage, love and war, two opposite concepts, are placed beside one another. The juxtaposition of love and war serves to show that despite how different the two are, both are characterized by a lack of rules or guidelines.

II. Examples of Juxtaposition

Juxtaposition can occur in literature between characters , settings , events, ideas, or actions in order to encourage the reader to compare and contrast the entities.

Finally, notice how this example describes a butler’s life:

A butler spends his days in a beautiful mansion dressed in a tuxedo, but returns home to a closet-sized apartment in a rundown part of town.

Example 1 juxtaposes two settings: a wealthy person’s mansion and a poor butler’s apartment. Such juxtaposition serves to highlight just how different the butler’s quality of living is from his employer’s.

Consider this examples of a juxtaposition in attitude:

A waitress is remarkably rude and impatient with a doting couple. She is extremely kind, though, to a quiet man who is eating alone with a book.

Here, the juxtaposition is of the waitress’s attitude towards certain customers. Her rudeness to a couple followed by kindness to a single man implies that she is jealous of the couple and empathetic to the single man, as she herself is either single or unhappy in a relationship. Because such different attitudes are in close proximity, the meaning behind them is magnified.

III. The Importance of Using Juxtaposition

Juxtaposition is an important literary term in that it highlights contrasts between two things but also invites comparisons . This device can be used to fully illustrate a character in a novel, complicate a poem’s subjects, or convince an audience to feel a certain way about the subjects.

For example, consider the waitress if her actions had not been juxtaposed. Simply shown being rude to a couple, she would be viewed as bitter and impatient. When her attitude is juxtaposed with her kindness towards a single man, though, her character is more well-rounded and understandable.

Juxtaposition can be used to consider universal ideas such as love and war. On the other hand, juxtaposition is often used in comedy as two largely different things placed in the same place can result in funny and strange situations.

IV. Examples of Juxtaposition in Literature

Juxtaposition is an important device in literature as it encourages the reader to make comparisons otherwise ignored or unapparent. It can serve to highlight certain characteristics of subjects, to make different subjects more alike, or to challenge the typical perspective on a subject.

For a short and simple example of juxtaposition, read Joseph Bruchac’s poem “Prints”:

Seeing photos of ancestors a century past is like looking at your own fingerprints— circles and lines you can’t recognize until someone else with a stranger’s eye looks close and says that’s you.

In this poem, Bruchac juxtaposes two points of view. First, he invites the reader to consider looking at oneself and how difficult it is to recognize oneself by certain details and characteristics. Then, he remarks on how much better a stranger is at recognizing these details in you. With this juxtaposition, Bruchac challenges the common notion that we know ourselves well with the argument that strangers may see us more truly or clearly than we see ourselves.

V. Examples of Juxtaposition in Pop Culture 

Juxtaposition is useful in pop culture as it complicates compositions, mixes up songs, and shapes characters’ development. As is true for literature, juxtaposition can be used for both serious and comedic means.

For an example of comedic juxtaposition, watch the trailer for Pixar’s animated film Up :

Carl Fredricksen is old, curt, and jaded. Russell is young, full of energy, and naïve. Russell wants to connect, whereas Fredricksen wants to be left alone. The juxtaposition of these two characters is funny, a cause of conflict in the movie, and ultimately, a reason for Fredricksen to lighten up and open his heart to the youngster.

For another example of juxtaposition, consider the French versus English narration in this Nike ad:

The French narrator speaks quickly and frequently, whereas the English narrator speaks rarely, simply, and with an unexcited voice. The juxtaposition of the two narrations serves to add a comedic touch to this already absurd ad.

For an example of juxtaposition in music, listen to Icelandic band Sigur Rós’s song “I Gaer”:

The most dramatic point of juxtaposition occurs at 55 seconds. The song begins with a light, mysterious mixture of xylophone-like instruments which are then abruptly interrupted by dramatic, powerful and roaring heavy-metal guitars and noise. The juxtaposition strikes listeners, interrupting the calm with a storm of sound.

VI. Related Terms: Juxtaposition vs. Foil

A foil is a character who has qualities that are opposite or contrasting to another character in a creative piece. Foils are used to highlight the uniquely different characteristics in one another. If foils sound like juxtaposition, it is because they are a specific type of juxtaposition. Just as squares may be considered rectangles but rectangles may not be considered squares, all foils are juxtapositions, but not all juxtapositions are foils. A juxtaposition may be between characters in the form of a foil, but it may also be between places, things, or ideas. Here are a few examples of foils versus juxtapositions:

God and Satan

Juxtaposition:

Heaven and hell

In this classic example, God and Satan symbolize good and bad, and exhibit purely opposite characters. Heaven and hell, symbolic of paradise versus suffering, are equally opposite but are settings rather than characters. For this reason, they would be considered a juxtaposition rather than foils.

Harry Potter and Voldemort

Hogwarts and the outside world

In this example from J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, Harry and Voldemort may be considered foils as they are opposites competing for good versus bad in the wizard world. Hogwarts, where Harry goes to school, is juxtaposed to the outside world as it is a place of open magic and strangeness versus the outside world which is void of magic and ordinary.   

As is shown in the above examples, foils are a type of juxtaposition. They apply specifically to characters who highlight differences in other characters.

VII. In Closing

Juxtaposition is a literary term which places different elements side by side in order to emphasize their differences, reveal surprising similarities, or explore a unique relationship between the two. It challenges us to reconsider and discover elements typically kept apart by placing them in contact with one another.

List of Terms

• Alliteration
• Amplification
• Anachronism
• Anthropomorphism
• Antonomasia
• APA Citation
• Aposiopesis
• Autobiography
• Bildungsroman
• Characterization
• Circumlocution
• Cliffhanger
• Comic Relief
• Connotation
• Deus ex machina
• Deuteragonist
• Doppelganger
• Double Entendre
• Dramatic irony
• Equivocation
• Extended Metaphor
• Figures of Speech
• Flash-forward
• Foreshadowing
• Intertextuality
• Literary Device
• Malapropism
• Onomatopoeia
• Parallelism
• Pathetic Fallacy
• Personification
• Point of View
• Polysyndeton
• Protagonist
• Red Herring
• Rhetorical Device
• Rhetorical Question
• Science Fiction
• Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
• Synesthesia
• Turning Point
• Understatement
• Urban Legend
• Verisimilitude
• Essay Guide
• Cite This Website

Juxtaposition: Definition, Useful Examples in Speech & Literature

You have probably heard the term juxtaposition being used when referring to spoken and written language, but what does this mean? In this article, we are going to explore the meaning of juxtaposition as well as taking a look at some examples of how it can be used in both a written and spoken context.

What Is Juxtaposition?

When used as a literary device , juxtaposition is when the writer places two things close to one another in order to make a comparison or contrast between the two. In most cases, the comparison is one which is unexpected, unusual or quite often-false. These things could be ideas, characters, items, places or any other element which could be compared.

When used in spoken language, juxtaposition may refer to the omission of conjunctions in a grammatical sense. An example of this might be the term ‘mother and father’ being shortened to simply ‘mother father.’ The listener is then forced to compare the two and treat them as one rather than seeing them as two separate entities which do not need to be contrasted or compared.

There are many proverbs which feature the use of juxtaposition and in this sense, it is used in order to compare two ideas or concepts. This is often done by way of figurative language . We will look at this in more detail when viewing some examples of spoken juxtaposition.

Juxtaposition Examples

Examples of juxtaposition in speech.

There are plenty of examples of when you might see an example of juxtaposition during spoken conversation, particularly as we mentioned, when it is used as a grammatical element. We are now going to look at some examples of what you can expect to hear.

• “ What is good for the goose is good for the gander .” This is a proverb which uses juxtaposition to suggest that something that is good for one person is going to be good for everyone.
• “ It is better late than never .” This proverb is one which employs the use of juxtaposition in order to convey the concept that something never happening is worse that it happening late. This makes a comparison between late and never.
• “ Beggars cannot be choosers .” Juxtaposition is used in this saying to show that the two opposing ideas (beggars are completely different to choosers) cannot be linked. If you are having to beg, then you cannot choose.
• “ You cannot show an old dog, new tricks .” In this saying, juxtaposition is used to compare old and new in a way which refers to not being able to instil new ideas in a person whose mind is set in its ways.
• In a speech by JFK we see a very good example of juxtaposition when he says the words “ never let us make a decision out of fear but never let us fear to make a decision .” In this example, juxtaposition is being used as a rhetorical device which is something that was favoured by Kennedy.

Examples Of Juxtaposition In Literature

Juxtaposition is frequently used by writers in a variety of written pieces and it is something that you can easily spot when you know what you are looking for. By using juxtaposition, the reader is then coerced into making a comparison between two things which may or may not have a genuine relation. We are now going to explore some examples of times in which writers have employed the used of this technique.

• In the play, Othello written by William Shakespeare, we see juxtaposition being used frequently to make a contrast between the dark skin of Othello and the very fair skin of his lover. A fine example of this is seen in the line “ Even now, the old black ram is tupping the white ewe .”
• We can see some very good examples of juxtaposition being used in Charles Dickens’ novel, A tale of two cities. An example of this can be seen when we read the following passage; “ It was the best of times, it was the worst of times .”
• In Anna Karenina written by Leo Tolstoy , we see a very good example of juxtaposition in the opening line in which he compares happiness and unhappiness in families. The line reads as follows; “ Happy families are alike, unhappy families are all unhappy in their own ways .”
• In the poem “The road not taken” written by Robert Frost, we can see a literal juxtaposition when he talks about two roads, or paths. This can then be seen as a figurative juxtaposition which encourages us to compare having to make a choice between two things.

Other Examples Of Juxtaposition

You are likely to see juxtaposition in other situations. Let’s take a look at some examples of this now.

• If you were reading a magazine and saw a photo of Hitler placed next to a new politician which you knew nothing about, by the simple placement of the images, you might make the comparison that the two share the same ideas. Despite the images being side by side, this is misleading juxtaposition as this doesn’t mean the two people share ideas.
• Juxtaposition is often used in film in the form of a montage, in which the film maker might place opposing ideas one after the other in a montage to encourage the viewer to compare the two.
• It may also be used in the form of oxymorons , for example in the sentence “he is slouching gracefully.” The phrase causes us to make a contrast between the two words which contradict one another, making for an interesting juxtaposition.

Juxtaposition is a technique used in writing which forces the reader to make a comparison between two things such as places, people or items. This creates a link between the two but this doesn’t always mean that it is a genuine link.

Juxtaposition can also be used as a grammatical technique in which a conjunction is removed in order to make a more direct link between two things.

There have been many times in which juxtaposition has been used and by examining these we have been able to gain a greater understanding of its use.

Juxtaposition Infographic

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How to Write a Juxtaposition Paper

How to Write a Comparative Analytical Essay

Juxtaposition describes two things side-by-side. When writing a juxtaposition paper, you are being asked to compare and contrast two things, explaining how they are alike and different. Following a structure will help the reader better understand what is being compared and contrasted. You may be asked to write this type of paper for an English or writing class. When writing, use your instructor's guidelines regarding the length of the paper.

Write a paragraph introduction ranging from three to five sentences. The introduction needs to include a thesis statement, which explains what the essay will be about. Explain in the opening paragraph what you are going to compare and contrast.

Compare your two ideas in the second, third and possibly fourth paragraphs. Each paragraph should be about one idea. For example, if you are comparing an apple and orange, write one paragraph explaining how both items are fruits. Another paragraph can explain how both fruits are round. The final comparison paragraph can be about how both fruits grow on trees.

Explain how the objects are not alike in the following paragraph(s). For example, if writing about apples and oranges, you may want to write about how they taste different: one is bitter and the other is sweet. You can also describe how both fruits differ in color and texture. The final contrasting paragraph can be about how the orange has a skin that you peel before you eat and apples are eaten with their skin.

Write a conclusion summarizing the ideas you already explained. Re-state your thesis in the concluding paragraph and explain how you proved it.

• Proofread your paper. Look for any spelling or grammatical mistakes.

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• Dictionary: Juxtaposition
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Shelby Winchell has worked as a journalist for more than seven years, covering the economy, political figures and celebrities for various websites. She has a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism.

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Literary Techniques: Juxtaposition

In this post, we explain what juxtaposition is and how to talk about it in your responses.

Guide Chapters

• How to analyse poetry and prose
• Colour Palette
• Character Archetypes
• Foreshadowing
• Intertextuality
• In medias res
• Juxtaposition
• Lighting - Film
• Mise en scene - Film
• Montage - Film
• Music - Film
• Shot angles - Film
• Symbolism - Film

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Year 11 english, vce english units 3 & 4.

Welcome to our glossary of Literary Techniques  JUXTAPOSITION  post. This post is part of a series that is aimed at increasing your knowledge of literary techniques and what they do. In this post, we expand on one of the techniques from our  Literary Techniques Part 1: Techniques for Analysing a Written Text  guide.

Some common questions that students ask are:

What is juxtaposition?

• How does juxtaposition work?
• How do I discuss juxtaposition in essay?

Here, we will discuss JUXTAPOSITION . Keep reading to find out what juxtaposition is, how it works, and to see some examples of how to discuss juxtaposition in your responses.

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Table of Contents

1. What is juxtaposition 2. Analysing juxtaposition – a step-by-step guide 3. Juxtaposition examples

Literary techniques: Juxtaposition

The literary technique of juxtaposition is the placement of two things side-by-side in order to reveal a contrast. Composers can effectively emphasise things by letting the audience to the work.

When we place to things side-by-side we can’t help but compare them. Consider the image below:

In this image, we can see two vases. While they are similar in colour and design, they are also quite different in form and shape. They both share the same raised spirals and swirls. The colour of the glaze is also the same. Yet, the shape is different. The one on the left is squat and round with a small lid. The one on the right is tall and slender with a long lid, it also sits on a saucer.

We can spot these things clearly because the vases are sat side by side. This is how juxtaposition operates, by allowing the reader to view things – be they characters or objects or ideas – side-by-side, the reader is compelled to examine the similarities and differences.

Analysing juxtaposition – A step-by-step process

Analysing techniques can be daunting, but it needn’t be. Really, analysis is just a systematic process. The more you practice it, the easier and more intuitive it becomes.

Let’s look at an overview of the process of looking at juxtaposition:

• Read the passage and see if two objects, ideas, or places are being compared or contrasted
• Examine what is being compared or contrasted
• Ask yourself, “is this comparison positive or negative?”
• What is the consequence of the juxtaposition on my perspective?
• Discuss your findings in a T.E.E.L structured response.

Now we’ve got an overview of how to do this, let’s look at the step-by-step process in detail. To do this let’s look at the opening lines of TS Eliot’s poem  The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.

“ Let us go then, you and I, When the evening is spread out against the sky Like a patient etherized upon a table; ”

Let’s see how to analyse this extract.

Step 1: Read the passage to see if things are being compared

This passage begins by describing a date as a pair of people prepare to go out. The persona narrating the poem states:

“Let us go then, you and I, When the evening is spread out against the sky Like a patient etherized upon a table;”

There are two distinct images here:

• The evening spreading out against the sky – this is a description of twilight
• A patient being anaesthetised on a surgical table

These are profoundly different images, aren’t they? Clearly, they are being juxtaposed. But why and to what end?

Step 2: Examine what is being compared or contrasted

The persona is describing a date. A date should be a romantic affair. And the description of the evening being “spread out against the sky” bears this up.

But the second image is not. The second image is a medical image an is quite unsettling. This is antithetical to the idea of romance.

Let’s think about the consequence of this comparison.

Step 3: Understand the effect of the juxtaposition

The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock is a critique of modern society and the rituals that were becoming commonplace, and in the persona’s view -sordid.

To this end, the opening lines offer an observation on dating during the early 20th century. Dating should be something romantic and profound, but it was becoming something bleak and procedural – like cutting up a patient on a table.

Clearly the persona is uncomfortable dating, because they perceive that dating has lost its traditional romance and sense of courtship. Instead it it is like prepping for an operation.

Now we understand what is being conveyed, we need to discuss. Let’s do that with a T.E.E.L structure.

Step 4: Write about the juxtaposition in a T.E.E.L structure

We now need to explain how this imagery develops meaning for the reader. The best way to do this is to use a T.E.E.L structure to explore what you perceive the juxtaposition to be conveying.

T.E.E.L stands for:

• Technique : The technique used in the example
• Example : The example
• Effect : Your explanation of the effect of this technique and how it develops meaning
• Link : An explanation of how this example supports your argument.

You can find a more detailed explanation of using T.E.E.L in our post on paragraph structure  (this post is part of our series on Essay Writing and shows you the methods Matrix English students learn to write Band 6 essays in the Matrix Holiday and Term courses). Let’s use this structure to discuss this example of juxtaposition.

• The technique being used is juxtaposition.
• The example of this is “When the evening is spread out against the sky / Like a patient etherized upon a table;”
• The effect  of this juxtaposition is to critique the devaluation of courtship in the early twentieth century from a conservative social position.
• The link to our argument about modernity is that the persona is critiquing modern society by saying that it has tossed away romance and mystery to make dating something clinical and procedural. This has disturbing sexual connotations.

Let’s put this together into a complete statement about this use of juxtaposition:

Juxtaposition examples

Now let’s look at some examples. We have included an explanation for each, and a sample response for the first one.

Consider the additional examples of literary juxtaposition below:

Juxtaposition example 1:

In  Julius Caesar , Shakespeare uses juxtaposition to sway the audience at Caesar’s funeral service. Consider the following extract:

“Come I to speak in Caesar’s funeral. He was my friend, faithful and just to me: But Brutus says he was ambitious; And Brutus is an honourable man. He hath brought many captives home to Rome Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill: Did this in Caesar seem ambitious? When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept: Ambition should be made of sterner stuff: Yet Brutus says he was ambitious; And Brutus is an honourable man.” Excerpt –  The Tragedy of Julius Caesar , Act 3, Scene 2, William Shakespeare – 1599

Effect of juxtaposition:

In Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar , Marc Antony juxtaposes the noble acts of Caesar with the refrain ‘and Brutus was an honourable man’ in order to negatively characterise Brutus negatively to his audience.

How to discuss juxtaposition in an essay:

Juxtaposition example 2:

In Shakespeare’s  Hamlet , Hamlet uses juxtaposition consistently to compare his uncle and father. Consider the following extract:

“Look here, upon this picture, and on this, The counterfeit presentment of two brothers. See, what a grace was seated on this brow; Hyperion’s curls; the front of Jove himself; An eye like Mars, to threaten and command; A station like the herald Mercury New-lighted on a heaven-kissing hill; A combination and a form indeed, Where every god did seem to set his seal, To give the world assurance of a man: This was your husband. Look you now, what follows: Here is your husband; like a mildew’d ear, Blasting his wholesome brother. Have you eyes?” Excerpt –  The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark , Act 3, Scene 4, William Shakespeare – 1601

While berating his mother, Hamlet juxtaposes positive images of his father and her former husband, King Hamlet, with grotesque images of Claudius, whom Gertrude has married. The effect of this is to emphasise the contrast Hamlet sees between the two men, and to horrify his mother.

Juxtaposition example 3:

Juxtaposition is not purely a literary technique. We can also find it find in visual texts such as films. Consider these two shots from Fritz Lang’s Metropolis   (1927):

In the first still, we see the Worker’s City. It is underground and dark. The workers walk together with hunched shoulders towards cramped and towering apartment blocks. In the shot next to it, we can the Club of Sons. It is wide open and naturally lit. The people have lots of space and appear active and happy.

Lang juxtaposes these two shots next two each other to show the inequality between the two groups: the workers are oppressed and exploited, the sons of industry are privileged and given lots of space.

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3 Ways to Use Juxtaposition in Your Writing

Most writers understand the value of creating contrast in their stories and characters. We’ve all been told to write our characters with dissimilar looks, and to give our antagonist and protagonist different types of skills and flaws. But when a writer takes any story differences and sets them up in parallel for the purpose of creating a contrast within the reader’s mind, that’s a literary technique called juxtaposition.

Juxtaposition: The arrangement of two or more ideas, characters, actions, settings, phrases, or words side-by-side or in similar narrative moments for the purpose of comparison, contrast, rhetorical effect, suspense, or character development.

As a writing technique, juxtaposition works great for characters, setting and prose to drive home messages about theme and to strengthen the bond between the reader and the story. Here are the three of the most common places a writer can add an aspect of juxtaposition to any story:

Juxtaposition in Character Development: Every character should be unique, and giving characters juxtaposing positive and negative traits is a good way to meet that goal. It also helps the reader to distinguish between characters better and choose their favorites. For example, a writer is creating a story with a love triangle. This is a life-changing decision for the protagonist, and the writer wants the reader to feel the torment of picking one. Yet the two characters are like twins. The protagonist can’t go wrong with either because they are both perfect in every way! Now take the same love triangle, but give the two love interests juxtaposing traits. Now the protagonist has a real choice to make. Will it be the pessimist with a steady job, good family and a ten year plan, who offers stability? Or the wild optimist, with no plans for the future, but who makes life a non-stop party? The juxtaposition encourages the reader to make comparisons based on their own values. Once the reader has an opinion, they’re emotionally invested in the outcome of the love triangle.

Juxtaposition in Setting Selection: Matching the setting to the tone of the scene is a common fiction tip, but it’s predictable. Instead use a juxtaposing setting to make the scene deeper and create another layer of emotion. To write about a father and son having a serious talk, many writers might pick a typical setting, like the dining room table. But what if dad takes the child to the demolition derby? The setting is all wrong for a discussion – it’s loud, crowded and packed with treats of soda, hotdogs and ice-cream. The boy is lulled into thinking it’s just another fun father/son outing. The choice of a juxtaposing setting takes on new meaning when the dad announces his plans to seek a divorce. Then the cars crashing into each other evolve into a metaphor for the boy’s life. The setting echoes and reinforces the out-of-control and frantic feelings the boy has as he realizes his home life is about to fall apart. As readers, we feel even stronger sympathy for the child’s pain because the father picked a horrible place to tell him devastating news.

Juxtaposition in Prose: You can find examples of juxtaposition everywhere in literature, even in book titles. Look at War and Peace. By selecting juxtaposing words, Tolstoy created a powerful and memorable title.

Poets are a great source of prose examples; they will often use juxtaposing words within sentences. There are several examples in Romeo and Juliet. Poetic juxtaposition can be so striking, the word might read as a mistake within the context of the sentence.

Prose juxtaposition can also be structural. For example, many classical novelists, such as Charles Dickens, have used the antics of the rich in juxtaposition to the plight of poor. A thematic juxtaposition weaves throughout A Tale of Two Cities. The duality of the novel starts with the opening line and title, making it clear the juxtaposition is intentional.

Juxtaposition Tips:

• Never list or tell the reader the differences. It’s the reader’s job to connect the dots.
• Combine the unexpected in new ways and test the limits of the contrasts. You might create something fantastic.
• Sometimes all your hard work will go unnoticed and that’s okay. Lucky for us writers, using juxtaposition still works on a reader without them knowing about it.
• And don’t feel badly if you don’t notice the juxtaposition in books. It often takes active reading to notice these instances, and for some, being an active reader interferes with their love of the story.

I’ve used juxtaposition in everything I’ve ever written. It’s something I enjoy doing, like the literary equivalent of hiding an Easter egg and wondering how many people will find it. I’m always hoping someone will find it, but if they don’t, it’s still a funny little story I can reveal later.

What about you? Do you use juxtaposition in your writing? I’d love to hear about it in the comments.

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Author: Robin Rivera

Robin trained as a professional historian and worked as a museum curator, educator, and historical consultant. She writes mystery fiction, with diverse characters and a touch of snark. She's currently working on two new manuscripts that started off as NaNoWriMo projects. You can follow her on Facebook(https://www.facebook.com/robin.rivera.90813). However, Pinterest (https://www.pinterest.com/RRWrites/) is where her inner magpie is happiest of all. View all posts by Robin Rivera

10 thoughts on “3 Ways to Use Juxtaposition in Your Writing”

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That’s a good article! Now I have realized that many of the stories I have read, have used juxtaposition somewhere or the other!

Thinking back to some of my favorite pieces of fiction, I am realizing that it is the competent use of juxtaposition which made the story richer and drove home the element of theme. Thanks for this. I am going to use it more in my own writing.

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Great article! Thinking how I can use this in my own work. Thanks for the idea!

Hi Jenni, I’m glad you enjoyed the post and found it helpful. Good luck with your project. : )

I really like the ideas in this post and hope to use some of them right away. Thanks for posting.

Hi Faith, That’s great to hear. Let me know how it goes.

I enjoyed the challenge of using juxtaposition in my science fiction novel, to show the contrast between different versions of the same person! It was fun, and certainly served a purpose 🙂 Great article, Robin. I’m going to show this to my daughter. She’s learning about different literary techniques at the moment, and this is a perfect example of how she can use juxtaposition in her assignment.

Hi Melissa, I’m thrilled you will be using my post to help your daughter with her school work. : ) My eldest was also asking me questions after reading, and was talking about how to use it in a paper. I’m doing my happy mom dance. Contrasting the same person sounds interesting. I need to think more about that idea, I might be able to use that juxtaposition in my current project. Thanks!

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