Juxtaposition Definition and Examples

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. Orange is not eaten or peeled in a way similar to an apple. Orange has more juice than an apple. By placing features side by side, we know how to categorize things and use the juxtaposition to decide our feelings and opinions. Perhaps you like the taste of an orange better than the taste of an apple

The literary technique of juxtaposition, pronounced juck-stuh-puh-ZIH-shun, is similar to personification and portmanteau. 

Contrast is used in this gadget to convey meaning. Despite the fact that the idea might seem abstract, you've undoubtedly used juxtaposition without even realizing it. 

In order to make a point, juxtaposition is often used in idioms like "you can't teach an old dog new tricks."

Contradictory ideas or objects are frequently thought of as being juxtaposed, however that isn't necessarily the case. Another comparison is "apples and oranges" (which is another phrase that uses juxtaposition). The device may affect a reader or text in a variety of ways:

  • creating a character for a narrative
  • examining the connections between seemingly unrelated things
  • proving a point of contention

Don't forget that the effects of the contrast juxtaposition creates aren’t always intentional.