What is Juxtaposition? Definition and Examples of Juxtaposition in Literature

Have you ever wondered how some writers effortlessly weave contrasting elements into their novels, creating mesmerizing depth and impact? In this post, we're diving headfirst into the world of juxtaposition. You’ll learn exactly what it is and how you can use it to elevate your writing. So grab your pen or keyboard and get ready to transform your storytelling from ordinary to extraordinary.

What is juxtaposition in literature?

Juxtaposition is a literary device wherein two things with contrasting effects are seen or placed close together to draw out each other's differences and create a whole new level of impact. Typically, you'll see a lot of juxtaposition used in literary books or poetry, writing where the author intends to set two things side by side to highlight their differences. Think about it this way: it's like pairing a high-tech gadget with an ancient relic or pitting a hero against an anti-hero. You're mixing and matching one image with its antithesis to create sparks!

Juxtaposition brings out the differences between characters, settings, and themes, and can be used to enhance character development, deepen emotional connections, emphasize themes and symbolism, or lighten the mood with humor and irony.

Examples of juxtaposition

Let's look at some examples of the different forms of juxtaposition.

Theme juxtaposition: The overarching conflicts of the storyline are usually naturally juxtaposed: Good vs. evil. Right vs wrong. Truth vs lies. Freedom vs oppression.

Plot juxtaposition: Usually found as plot twists, or changes in POV: A moment of joy, quickly replaced by despair when something goes wrong. A quick change in POV from a character in the middle of the action to another character in a slower scene. A character rising to success, while another is falling into hard times.

Character juxtaposition: A criminal vs a detective. A planner vs an improviser. Book-smart vs. street-smart.

Emotional juxtaposition: A grieving character at an amusement park, surrounded by people having a great time. A lonely character next to a happy couple. A somber scene turned humorous by a well-timed joke.

Setting juxtaposition: The bustling streets of a vibrant city vs the serenity of a quiet countryside. A safe, cozy living room vs a dangerous job site. Rain vs sunshine. Day vs night.

Oxymoron: Now down to sentence-level juxtaposition, this is where two contradictory words are used side by side to create contrast, like “deafening silence”, "forever for now" or “bittersweet".

Tips for mastering juxtapositions

Study how classic authors juxtapose ideas

Nothing beats learning from those who’ve gone before you and have mastered the technique. So, the first thing you want to do is read and analyze existing works that use juxtaposition. Grab those favorite novels or literary gems and look out for clever contrasts. What types of juxtapositions do the authors use? How do the authors use visual juxtaposition to paint vivid scenes in your mind? How do contrasting characters play off each other to create captivating storylines? Dive into these juxtaposition examples, take notes, and let them inspire your own writing.

Let’s look at a classic example from the beginning of 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, 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.

Dickens’ novel is full of juxtapositions right from the very beginning–it’s the ultimate tale of opposites. In it, we see the stark contrast between the way different groups of people experienced that time period. For some, it was the best, and for others, it was the worst. Dickens uses these contrasting elements to create a gripping story that tugs at your heartstrings.

Experiment with imagery and symbolism

Experiment with opposing imagery and symbolism in your descriptive writing. Think about your story's mood and themes. What if you paired a beautiful snowflake in a scorching desert? Or a delicate butterfly amidst a field of ruins? By playing with these contrasts, you're giving your readers a taste of literary fusion that they won't forget.

In the novel The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, we're taken on a mesmerizing journey into a mysterious circus that only opens at night. Now, here's where the magic of juxtaposition comes into play. As readers wander through the enchanting circus tents, they encounter awe-inspiring sights like an Ice Garden adorned with frozen flowers and ivory grass.

There are no stripes visible on the walls, everything is sparkling and white. She cannot tell how far it stretches, the size of the tent obscured by cascading willows and twisting vines.

The air itself is magical. Crisp and sweet in her lungs as she breathes, sending a shiver down to her toes that is caused by more than the forewarned drop in temperature.

There are no patrons in the tent as she explores, circling alone around trellises covered in pale roses and a softly bubbling, elaborately carved fountain. And everything, save for occasional lengths of white silk ribbon strung like garlands, is made of ice.

Curious, Celia picks a frosted peony from its branch, the stem breaking easily. But the layered petals shatter, falling from her fingers to the ground, disappearing in the blades of ivory grass below. When she looks back at the branch, an identical bloom has already appeared…

…And she likes having the space to herself, the stillness and the calm sweetened with the subdued scent of frozen flowers.

It's a stunning visual juxtaposition–the chill of winter contrasting with the warmth of a blooming garden. This clever blend of opposing imagery paints a vivid scene, drawing readers deeper into the story. But that's not all; the circus itself is a symbol for Marco and Celia that represents both a stage for their talents and a cage that confines them. Morgenstern weaves symbolism into the fabric of her story, using this powerful juxtaposition to add layers of meaning and intrigue.

Character and plot juxtaposition

Juxtaposing characters with opposing traits can create exciting dynamics that drive your plot forward. Remember that no-nonsense detective paired with the scatterbrained sidekick we mentioned earlier? Clashing personalities like these add tension, humor, and unpredictability to the characters’ interactions, keeping readers engaged and entertained. The key is to create well-rounded characters, each with their unique strengths and weaknesses so that their differences become opportunities for growth and development throughout the story. Using contrasting character pairings, you can also drop subtle hints that foreshadow future events.

Plot juxtaposition, as sci-fi/fantasy writer Scott Reintgen puts it, is when you use juxtaposition to surprise the reader with a new plot direction. Here’s where you get to play a magician, distracting the reader with one feeling just to swing them into another one, moments later. There are a few ways you can do this:

Good to bad: a scene that starts on positive footing and then swings toward something that’s worse.

Bad to good: a scene where your character starts off in a negative place and the reader expects things to continue to go poorly, but then something good happens to them, even if it’s a small gesture like someone doing something kind for them.

Bad to worse: is when you use the expectations of the reader to hide the fact that something worse is coming their way.

Serious to funny: a scene where your hero may go through something intense, but then something happens that swings the reader into a scene that’s far more humorous.

Funny to serious: opposite of serious to funny, go from humorous moment to a serious one.

Ready to use juxtaposition to enhance your writing?

From analyzing existing works and experimenting with visual juxtaposition to crafting characters and surprising your reader with plot juxtaposition, these techniques are the secret ingredients to make your story shine. So play with contrasts, experiment with symbolism, and let your creativity run wild. For more tips to improve your writing skills and level up, check out the Level Up Your Writing course in the Writing Mastery Academy!