What Does it Mean to Juxtapose?
One of my favorite literary devices — life as well as books and art — is Juxtaposition. Juxtaposing is when very different things are put close together or side by side, so the viewer or reader gets a shock or smile when they notice the contrast. Ready for some juxtaposition examples that explore juxtaposition in artwork as well as literature?
You’re in luck, because in addition to being an English teacher, I’m also an artist! Here’s a cartoon example with two very different moods juxtaposed:

Viewing the drawing, you may have grinned from the juxtaposed contrast of the sharp, spiky hair and attitude on the left with the smooth and serene expression on the right. Juxtaposition is useful in creative drawings and art to make differences stand out. In the example above, the left fellow’s fury POPS off the screen because he’s so much madder than the lady.
Synonyms for Juxtaposition
The easiest juxtaposition synonym is contrast, but other options for words that mean roughly the same thing include: closeness, proximity, or adjacency — but not of those quite correctly sum of the meaning of having two contrasting things next to each other.
Juxtaposition in Art
Color, lines, and subject matter can all be juxtaposed to great effect in the art world. (One of drawing’s benefits is you can make anything ANY color or shape.) Want an example of juxtaposition in artwork, in the form of color contrast? In the illustration below, the super light eyes are sharply juxtaposed with the dark makeup and hair, making them jump off the page!

Try Juxtaposition Photography
If you’re into photography, experiment with juxtaposing hues, lines, textures, and subject matter to boost excitement and flair. For example, when I pose for photos for my travel blog, I make sure to pick dress colors that sharply juxtapose with the background to make both my outfit and the destination pop off the screen. (Ex: A red dress in front of a green forest.)
Juxtaposition as a Literary Device
Though sometimes it’s easier to see and define juxtaposition visually, it’s all over literature and text. (I’m an English teacher. You knew the school reference would happen!)
To find juxtaposition in a book or short story, look for the contrast — and what that contrast helps make stand out. Sometimes juxtaposition happens between the actions of two characters, or between the context and situation or person. (Speaking of “between” — make sure to check out the “liminal space” lesson after this one!)
One example (which also is relevant for real life) would be if two people have very different punishments for the same action. Juxtaposing those contrasting outcomes is vitally important because it can highlight prejudice or unjust systems that need to be changed.
Another example can be in juxtaposing the moods of different parts of a book or movie. For example, one chapter might be extremely suspenseful and scary, while the next one is funny and calm. Mood juxtapositions like this keep the reader interested and refreshed, because it’s not just the same vibe over and over.

Juxtaposition Examples in TV, Movies, and Life
Though juxtaposition is a literary term, it’s sure relevant to TV, movies, and real life! (Same with foreshadowing and all three types of irony.) One example is with height — a realm ripe for visual contrast. Height juxtaposition is often used for comic effect in movies or TV, for example, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel filming 5-foot-tall Susie Meyerson arguing with the towering six-foot-tall Sophie Lennon.
The actor Danny DeVito is also frequently used for visual height juxtaposition jokes. Juxtaposed height jokes are also daily features of my own life as a muscular six foot tall woman, as onlookers delight in pointing out the size contrast between me and my friends!
VIDEO: Juxtaposition Definition and Examples
(Note: I run several websites, so I made that juxtaposition video for a related article on my other site, Around the World “L” but it’s relevant, so I figured I’d share it here, too!)
Juxtaposition Examples, in Sum
So what about you? Have you seen great juxtaposition examples in literature, TV, or life? Are you noticing juxtaposition in artwork more now? What things do YOU enjoy juxtaposing? Do share!
Tempted to click another article? Go for it!

The author and artist, Lillie Marshall, is a National Board Certified Teacher of English who has been a public school educator since 2003, and an experienced Reiki practitioner since 2018. All art on this site is original and hand-drawn by Lillie. She launched DrawingsOf.com Educational Cartoons in 2020, building upon the success of her other sites, AroundTheWorldL.com (established 2009), TeachingTraveling.com (founded 2010), and ReikiColors.com. Subscribe to Lillie’s monthly newsletter, and follow @WorldLillie on social media to stay connected!
dobre
Monday 22nd of June 2020
I love the whole concept of it. I am sure many people love to use it for their projects.
Lillie Marshall
Tuesday 23rd of June 2020
Thanks, Dobre!
Dave M.
Saturday 20th of June 2020
Such a clever way to show vs. tell – I'm sure students and teachers alike will find this post so helpful!
Lillie Marshall
Saturday 20th of June 2020
Thank you! That's the plan! And I'm hoping teachers will use the "Request" feature to ask for specific vocab words and concepts illustrated that would be of help: https://drawingsof.com/request/
Darla
Wednesday 17th of June 2020
I love your drawings! Such a great explanation of this concept!
Lillie Marshall
Wednesday 17th of June 2020
Merci! Many more to come. Curious to hear requests from teachers, parents, and students about which concepts and vocab words they most want next.
Erin
Tuesday 16th of June 2020
Love your idea of using juxtaposition of color to make a travel photo pop!
Lillie Marshall
Tuesday 16th of June 2020
Yes! Just yesterday I used color juxtaposition for an Instagram photo by making sure the there was a bright pink rose in the frame to POP against the green background!
Rhonda Albom
Tuesday 16th of June 2020
I have used this technique when taking photos. It leads to interesting composition.
Lillie Marshall
Tuesday 16th of June 2020
Definitely!