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juxtaposition definition literature

Author

Rachel Fowler

Updated on May 26, 2026

Common Examples of Juxtaposition
What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. When it rains, it pours. All’s fair in love and war. Better late than never. Beggars can’t be choosers. Making a mountain out of a molehill. When the cat’s away the mice will play. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.

What is an example of juxtaposition in literature?

Juxtaposition in Literature. Generally speaking, juxtaposition refers to a stark contrast between two people or things. Sometimes it’s deliberate; other times it’s a natural occurrence, such as twin sisters where one has light blonde hair and the other has dark black hair.

What is a juxtaposition in literature?

Juxtaposition means placing two things side by side so as to highlight their differences. Writers use it for rhetorical effect. Writers juxtapose divergent elements frequently: wealth and poverty, beauty and ugliness, or darkness and light.

Why is juxtaposition used 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.

What are three types of juxtaposition?

Types of Juxtaposition

The most common are foils, antitheses, and oxymorons. These are characters whose personalities, backgrounds, or ideas contrast with one another.

What is the example of Litotes?

In truth, a litotes will use irony to emphasize an idea without minimizing its importance. For example, a friend might expect her roommate to talk about someone who’s obviously wealthy by saying, “He’s filthy rich.” However, when she comes out and says, “Well, he’s not exactly a pauper,” it’s a little unexpected.

What is the simple definition of juxtaposition?

Definition of juxtaposition

: the act or an instance of placing two or more things side by side often to compare or contrast or to create an interesting effect an unusual juxtaposition of colors also : the state of being so placed contrasting shapes placed in juxtaposition to each other.

What’s the difference between oxymoron and juxtaposition?

1. Juxtaposition is pairing that which depicts either similarities or differences between the two while an oxymoron is a pairing of contrasting statements depicting the differences.

Is black and white a juxtaposition?

Black vs White

Colours are great examples of juxtaposition in photography. And there are no two colours that contrast better than black and white. This is because black and white have significance beyond their role as colours.

What’s the difference between juxtaposition and contrast?

Contrast refers to the more general placement of oppositional or different things, whereas, juxtaposition requires a direct side-by-side placement.

What’s the difference between juxtaposition and dichotomy?

Put simply, a dichotomy is generally a case of two opposites being pitted against each other while juxtaposition involves two elements that contrast but may not be opposite. In a dichotomy, there is little or no overlap between the two forces involved.

What is the difference between juxtaposition and paradox?

Main Difference – Paradox vs Juxtaposition

Juxtaposing is a literary device in which two opposing elements are placed side by side in order to highlight their similarities and differences. Paradox is a phrase or sentence where two contrasting ideas are used in order to reveal a hidden truth.

Why is juxtaposition effective?

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.

How do you write a juxtaposition in writing?

Writers create juxtaposition by placing two entities side by side to create dramatic or ironic contrast. Juxtaposition is a form of implied comparison in that there is no overt comparison or inference on the part of the writer. This allows the reader to discern how the paired entities are similar or different.

What is an example of juxtaposition in Romeo and Juliet?

Juliet uses her terms of contrast to indirectly characterize herself as romantic and Romeo as perfect, but when she is betrayed by him, Juliet characterizes Romeo as an untrustworthy traitor. She uses an example of juxtaposition when she remarks, “thou day in night” about Romeo (3.2. 17).

How do you use juxtaposition in a sentence?

Juxtaposition in a Sentence
The reality clearly shows a cultural juxtaposition between rich people and poor people.What impressed me most about the song was its juxtaposition of country and classic soul.