A juxtaposition is defined as a literary device highlighting the difference or resemblance between two ideas or objects by placing them together. The qualities of the compared themes and objects are enhanced due to their proximity. Despite the majority of examples being opposites or divergent ideas, they’re not limited to mere contrast. The word “juxtaposition” is a combination of the Latin word juxta meaning “close,” and “position” from English. Inherently, the word refers to placing or positioning an object next to another.
Juxtapositions are a favorite for authors and poets. It allows them to create a vivid tapestry of comparisons and contrasts. It enables readers to differentiate ideas, helping them glean the context. Everyday language, too, is rife with examples such as “black and white” or “tall and short” among others.
Juxtaposition Examples
Examples of juxtaposition are found across all forms of literature. Authors use juxtapositions to compare objects, individuals, themes, and even abstract ideas. These literary devices enable readers to understand the compared elements in depth by relating them to the other.
Here are some popular examples of juxtaposition in literature:
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.
William Shakespeare in Othello
In the above example, Shakespeare brings the reader’s attention and compares two contrasting ideas to denote the character’s nature.
Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.
Leo Tolstoy in Anna Karenina
Tolstoy indulges in deep commentary when comparing happy and unhappy families.
The roadsides, once so attractive, were now lined with browned and withered vegetation as though swept by fire.
Rachel Carson in Silent Spring
The juxtaposition in Carson’s Silent Spring is one full of vivid imagery but also addled with an ominous tone. It serves as a warning about the environmental devastation that awaits modern civilization.
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at the close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Dylan Thomas in Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night
Life’s association with vibrance and death’s with inertia is an age-old comparison. Thomas delves into this notion further by using a layered juxtaposition of day and night.
Juxtapositions can also be explored as an overarching concept, where characters, situations, and themes are placed side by side. A good example of its use as a theme is Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, where R.L. Stevenson contrasts the benevolent Dr. Jekyll with the malevolent Mr. Hyde. Other novels and works using juxtapositions as a central literary device are:
- Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
- Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
- A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
- The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
- The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain
- Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
- Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
How to Use Juxtaposition in a Sentence
Below are some important points to keep in mind:
- Select core points the juxtaposition will be centered around.
- Choose antonyms or synonyms to frame them.
- Add conjunctions to support the comparison.
- Add contrast to enhance the juxtaposition.
- Come up with alternatives.
Examples of simple juxtapositions in a sentence:
- He was soft-spoken and kind, unlike his brash father.
- While some people are patient, others are of quick temper.
- The overgrown playground stood out like a sore thumb in the backdrop of a verdant neighborhood.
- Though the couch seemed comfortable, Rick chose to sit on the hard floor.
- The hustle and bustle of the city appealed more to Jason than the lonesome neighborhoods of the suburb.
Juxtaposition vs. Oxymoron
The difference between a juxtaposition and an oxymoron can often be confusing. Oxymorons place words with contradictory meanings next to each other to indicate an underlying association and create impact. On the other hand, juxtapositions place ideas and themes side by side to express contrast and comparison. Oxymorons are limited to the opposite meanings of the words placed together. Juxtapositions, however, can be used to develop themes, concepts, and characters where contrasts or similarities are essential.
Below are a few examples of oxymorons:
- Pretty ugly
- Close distance
- Clearly misunderstood
- Ordered chaos
- Loud whisper
- Seriously funny
- Even odds
- Working vacation
- Silent screams
- Perfectly imperfect
Some examples of oxymorons from popular literature:
Parting is such sweet sorrow.
William Shakespeare in Romeo and Juliet
Down the close darkening lanes they sang their way to the sliding-shed.And lined the train with faces grimly gay.
Wilfred Owen in The Send-Off
To visit other places, and come down
With fearful bravery thinking by his face
To fasten in our thoughts that they have courage.
William Shakespeare in Julius Caesar
The above examples of oxymorons express the impact of placing two antonyms together. Conversely, juxtapositions can be explored over a broader scope, allowing the writer to create a holistic comparison between two concepts.
Juxtapositions are among the most popular tools used by writers to improve understanding of their work. Comparisons and relative thinking enable better exploration of complex abstract themes that become the object of writing.
