In this article, you will learn all about juxtaposition, its meaning and definition, points to keep in mind when using this particular literary device and how to effectively use them in sentences to create an effect.
Table of Contents
- What Is Juxtaposition? – Meaning and Definition
- Use of Juxtaposition – How and When?
- How Is Juxtaposition Different from Antithesis and Oxymoron?
- Examples of Juxtaposition
- Frequently Asked Questions on Juxtaposition in English Grammar
What Is Juxtaposition? – Meaning and Definition
The word ‘juxtaposition’ refers to the process of placing two things/ideas that are capable of comparison side by side in order to depict the contrasting relationship between them. The Oxford Learner’s Dictionary defines ‘juxtaposition’ as “the fact of putting people or things together, especially in order to show a contrast or a new relationship between them”. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, juxtaposition is defined as “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”.
Use of Juxtaposition – How and When?
You should have understood by now that juxtaposition is attained only when two ideas are placed next to each other with the intention of showing a contrasting effect between them. So should they be completely opposite aspects? Not necessarily. The main motive behind using juxtaposition is only to compare and contrast the differences.
When can one use juxtaposition?
- To display the contrast between the characters in a story – the use of a protagonist and an antagonist.
- To demonstrate two sides of an argument – especially like the one in a debate.
- To indicate the link between contrasting ideas.
- To exhibit the similarity between two people, places, animals, things or ideas.
How can one use juxtaposition?
- Think about the main ideas or points you would like to compare and contrast.
- Jot down the similarities or differences between them.
- Analyse how they can be linked based on their similarities or differences.
- Present them in a way that best supports your writing or speech.
How Is Juxtaposition Different from Antithesis and Oxymoron?
The first thing you need to know when thinking about the differences between juxtaposition, antithesis and oxymoron is the fact that antithesis and oxymoron are just types of juxtaposition. Antithesis is the positioning of directly opposite ideas side by side, and oxymoron is the use of two directly opposite words together to create a new phrase. Juxtaposition, on the other hand, is a broader category. It only focuses on highlighting the differences between two ideas or objects placed side by side.
Examples of Juxtaposition
The following section has examples of juxtaposition seen in speeches, movie dialogues, songs and literary works. Read through them and analyse how it works so that you can use juxtaposition effectively in your speech or writing.
Examples of Juxtaposition from Literature
Example 1
The use of phrases ‘merry and tragical’, ‘tedious and brief’, ‘hot ice’ and ‘the concord of this discord’ are used in juxtaposition to highlight the differences.
“Merry and tragical? Tedious and brief?
That is hot ice, and wondrous strange snow!
How shall we find the concord of this discord?” (‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ by William Shakespeare)
Example 2
In the following example, Eliot juxtaposes April (the spring season) with winter, lilacs in bloom with infertile land, winter with warmth and life with dried tubers.
“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.” (‘The Wasteland’ by T.S. Eliot)
Example 3
The following lines appear in the opening scene of Shakespeare’s play, ‘Macbeth’. He juxtaposes the terms ‘fair’ and ‘foul’ with the intention of giving the audience a cue as to what is to happen in the play.
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair:
Hover through the fog and filthy air.” (‘Macbeth’ by William Shakespeare)
Examples of Juxtaposition in TV Shows and Songs
Example 1
The lines given below are seen to use juxtaposition to quote the uncertainty of life.
Very funny,
but how would you like it
if you never knew from one day to the next
if you were going to spend it
striding around like a vivid god,
your shoulders in the clouds,
or sitting down there amidst the wallpaper,
staring straight ahead with your little plastic face? (‘Some Days’ – a song by Billy Collins)
Example 2
Here, the contrast between the two – the ‘small-town girl’ and the ‘city boy’ is shown using the technique of juxtaposition.
“Just a small-town girl
Livin’ in a lonely world
She took the midnight train goin’ anywhere
Just a city boy
Born and raised in South Detroit
He took the midnight train goin’ anywhere”
“Some will win, some will lose
Some were born to sing the blues” (‘Don’t Stop Believin’’ – a song by Journey)
Example 3
The following is a conversation between Enid and Wednesday from the popular television series ‘Wednesday’. The dialogue is a perfect example of juxtaposition. ‘Creepy, lifeless eyes’ do not usually wake up someone and ‘the sight of a rainbow or a pop song’ does not normally make anyone nauseous. The use of juxtaposition here captures the essence of both the characters – Enid, the ecstatic extrovert and Wednesday, the impassive introvert.
Enid: I can’t believe I’m actually going to miss your creepy, lifeless eyes waking me up every morning.
Wednesday: Anytime I grow nauseous at the sight of a rainbow or hear a pop song that makes my ears bleed, I’ll think of you.
Examples of Juxtaposition in Speeches
Example 1
Muniba Mazari makes good use of juxtaposition to get the attention of her audience and kickstart her speech, ‘We’re perfectly imperfect’.
“Wherever I go, they call it adversity, I call it opportunity. They call it a weakness, I call it strength. They call me disabled, I call myself differently able. They see my disability. They see my disability. I see my ability.”
“Those incidents and accidents are so strong that they break you physically. They deform your body but they transform your soul. Those incidents break you, deform you but they mold you into the best version of you.”
Example 2
Malala Yousafzai says in her famous speech at the United Nations,
“Nothing changed in my life except this: Weakness, fear and hopelessness died. Strength, power and courage was born.”
She also juxtaposes light with darkness and voice with silence in her sixteenth birthday speech at the United Nations.
“Dear sisters and brothers, we realise the importance of light when we see darkness. We realise the importance of our voice when we are silenced.”
Example 3
John F. Kennedy used juxtaposition in his inaugural address to express what he, as a leader, along with his fellow citizens, would do.
“And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.
My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Frequently Asked Questions on Juxtaposition in English Grammar
What is juxtaposition?
The word ‘juxtaposition’ refers to the process of placing two things/ideas that are capable of comparison side by side in order to depict the contrasting relationship between them.
What is the definition of juxtaposition?
The Oxford Learner’s Dictionary defines ‘juxtaposition’ as “the fact of putting people or things together, especially in order to show a contrast or a new relationship between them”. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, juxtaposition is defined as “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”.
Give some examples of juxtaposition.
- “Fair is foul, and foul is fair:
Hover through the fog and filthy air.” (‘Macbeth’ by William Shakespeare)
- “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.
My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
- “Nothing changed in my life except this: Weakness, fear and hopelessness died. Strength, power and courage was born.” (Malala Yousafzai, in her speech at the United Nations)
How do you pronounce juxtaposition?
Juxtaposition is pronounced as juk-stuh-puh-zi-shun. It’s phonetic transcription is /ˌdʒʌkstəpəˈzɪʃn/.
