Juxtaposition
/ˌdʒʌkstəpəˈzɪʃən/
nounC1
Definition
Juxtaposition is when you put two things next to each other, often very different things, to see how they compare or contrast. It is often used in art, writing, or everyday life to highlight differences or create new meanings by showing things together.
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See It in Action
The act of placing two things next to each other to show contrast or comparison
- •The artist used the juxtaposition of light and dark colors to create a dramatic effect.
- •The film's juxtaposition of old and new buildings showed how the city has changed.
- •In literature, the juxtaposition of good and evil characters makes the story more interesting.
The state of being close together, especially when things are very different
- •The juxtaposition of silence and loud music surprised the audience.
- •There was a strange juxtaposition of calm and chaos in the scene.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "juxtaposition" like "next to" (A1 word), but with a special purpose to compare or show contrast clearly.
- ✓Picture two very different pictures hanging side by side on a wall—one is bright and happy, the other dark and sad.
- ✓It feels like when you notice how different two friends look when standing close together, making their differences more obvious.
- ✓Sounds like "JUX-ta-po-SI-tion" → imagine "jugs" placed next to "position" signs, two very different things placed side by side.
- ✓In stories or movies, placing a hero and a villain next to each other shows their differences more clearly.
- ✓NOT like "mix" (things combined together), juxtaposition means things stay separate but close.
- ✓NOT like "compare" (just looking for similarities), juxtaposition emphasizes both similarities and differences by placing things side by side.
- ✓NOT like "contrast" alone, which is the difference; juxtaposition is the act of placing things so you can see the contrast.
Try Other Words
- •Contrast: showing differences clearly (Use when focusing only on differences, not the act of placing things side by side)
- •Comparison: looking at similarities and differences (Use when highlighting both similarities and differences without focusing on placement)
- •Adjacency: being next to something (Use when the focus is just on physical closeness, not meaning or effect)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "juxta-" (Latin for "next to") + "position" (place or location)
- •Etymology: From Latin "juxta" meaning near or beside, combined with English "position"
- •Historical development: First used in English in the 19th century to describe placing things side by side for comparison or effect
- •Modern usage: Common in art, literature, film, and everyday speech to describe placing different things close together for meaning or effect
Reflect & Connect
•How can juxtaposition help us understand differences in culture or ideas better?
•Can you think of a time when placing two very different things together changed your opinion about them?
Fill in the blanks
1.The artist's use of juxtaposition ___ the bright colors ___ the dark background to create contrast.
2.Juxtaposition often helps show ___ between two very different ideas or images.
3.Unlike mixing, juxtaposition keeps things ___ but close to each other.
4.The writer used juxtaposition to place a happy character ___ a sad character in the same scene.
5.Juxtaposition is not just about placing things side by side, but about creating a ___ effect.
6.The strange ___ of silence and noise in the play was an example of juxtaposition.
7.When two opposite feelings are in juxtaposition, it makes the story ___ interesting.