Juxtaposition is when a writer places two ideas, characters, images, or events side by side to highlight their differences or create contrast. In AP English, students learn that juxtaposition is used to make a point clearer or more dramatic.
Writers use juxtaposition to show conflict, create irony, or emphasise a theme. By putting opposites next to each other — such as light and dark or rich and poor — they help readers see each element more clearly and think about their meaning.
Example of juxtaposition in an AP English text
In A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, the opening line uses juxtaposition:
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...”
By placing opposite ideas side by side, Dickens shows the extreme contradictions of the time period. This sets the tone for the novel’s themes of chaos, conflict, and duality
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