Besides being used to strengthen prose, juxtaposition can be used to draw a contrast between scenes a very dark scene next to an uplifting scene , characters, imagery, and more. A character who juxtaposes the traits of the protagonist is called a foil.
A common misconception is that a foil is synonymous with an antagonist. If you pair a very grumpy character with a kind and patient character, the kind character will seem sweeter, and the grumpy character will seem more cantankerous. Think of Spongebob and Squidward or Belle and the Beast. Those are juxtaposed characters, and their proximity makes the contrast very obvious, emphasizing those traits.
Juxtaposition in that one awkward scene from Pride and Prejudice Darcy and Georgiana have a cute moment that puts the audience at ease, so the snap and quick zoom before Lizzie runs away is more jarring. Putting a calm moment before panic makes it more impactful. Another bit of juxtaposition in the same scene is how Lizzie is running to get away from Darcy, while he catches up to her with a calm, slow gait. That works as a metaphor for their character dynamic.
Then they both stop and the silence weighs heavier between them because of that jolt of words and sounds and pent-up affection RIP. The silence feels more painful because of their jumbled attempts at conversation right before it.
In film, that kind of juxtaposition lends to tension, pacing, and movement in a scene. Juxtaposition is simply a literary device pairing things together to create contrast. Disclosure: Some of the links above may contain affiliate partnerships, meaning, at no additional cost to you, Self-Publishing School may earn a commission if you click through to make a purchase.
In art, two elements are placed side by side in order to express meaning without words. Let's explore a few examples:. Expert Photography published a great article on juxtaposition. It explores variations between dark and light.
Beyond that, it also uses size and imagery to display contrast. In the second example on the page linked here, we see a father's large hand being clasped by a tiny baby's hand. Artist Eric Kim also published an article focusing on juxtaposition. He writes, "Juxtaposition is just a fancy word for contrast. It's not just light versus dark or big versus small. In his fourth example of juxtaposition, Kim explores the contrast between the past and the present.
We see a daughter looking at herself in the mirror as she puts on a colorful dress. This stands in contrast to the black and white photo of her parents hanging beside her. Gurushots has spent some time exploring juxtaposition in photography. The first image in the article is titled, "How dare you!? Both size and color are juxtaposed in this photo. Reviewing juxtaposition examples shows how elements or concepts can be compared in an effort to magnify their unique qualities. Sometimes, writers use simple techniques like alliteration or rhyming to make things stand out.
Juxtaposition is a bit more delicate than that and it can be thoroughly fascinating. Try using it in one of your next pieces of writing. It discusses important elements like the hook in your intro. Once you've established that, see if you can paint two characters who are total opposites. Have fun with it and happy writing! All rights reserved. Juxtaposition Examples. Juxtaposition in Everyday Life We see contrasts around us every day. Let's take a look: Old with the new : If you've ever visited Rome, you might have noticed that the ancient Colosseum still stands tall and proud.
But, not too far away, there are graffiti-ridden buildings. The two stand in total contrast to one another. Happily or unhappily married : Have you ever gone out to eat and noticed different couples at their tables?
Perhaps one couple is sitting side by side in a booth, talking quietly and closely. Beside them might be a couple sitting across from one another, with sour looks on their faces and cell phones in hand. Married life isn't always perfect. All shapes and sizes : Sometimes people adopt dogs of very different breeds. Picture a large German Shepherd walking down the street alongside a tiny Teacup Poodle. The two dogs might be best friends, but they'll be in total juxtaposition to one another in terms of size.
Changing the mood : A photographer may take a black and white photo of the sunrise on a cloudy morning. Then, he remarks on how much better a stranger is at recognizing these details in you. With this juxtaposition, Bruchac challenges the common notion that we know ourselves well with the argument that strangers may see us more truly or clearly than we see ourselves.
As is true for literature, juxtaposition can be used for both serious and comedic means. Carl Fredricksen is old, curt, and jaded. Russell wants to connect, whereas Fredricksen wants to be left alone. The juxtaposition of these two characters is funny, a cause of conflict in the movie, and ultimately, a reason for Fredricksen to lighten up and open his heart to the youngster. For another example of juxtaposition, consider the French versus English narration in this Nike ad:.
The French narrator speaks quickly and frequently, whereas the English narrator speaks rarely, simply, and with an unexcited voice. The juxtaposition of the two narrations serves to add a comedic touch to this already absurd ad. The most dramatic point of juxtaposition occurs at 55 seconds. The song begins with a light, mysterious mixture of xylophone-like instruments which are then abruptly interrupted by dramatic, powerful and roaring heavy-metal guitars and noise.
The juxtaposition strikes listeners, interrupting the calm with a storm of sound. A foil is a character who has qualities that are opposite or contrasting to another character in a creative piece.
Foils are used to highlight the uniquely different characteristics in one another. If foils sound like juxtaposition, it is because they are a specific type of juxtaposition.
Just as squares may be considered rectangles but rectangles may not be considered squares, all foils are juxtapositions, but not all juxtapositions are foils. A juxtaposition may be between characters in the form of a foil, but it may also be between places, things, or ideas. Here are a few examples of foils versus juxtapositions:. In this classic example, God and Satan symbolize good and bad, and exhibit purely opposite characters.
Heaven and hell, symbolic of paradise versus suffering, are equally opposite but are settings rather than characters. For this reason, they would be considered a juxtaposition rather than foils. In this example from J. Hogwarts, where Harry goes to school, is juxtaposed to the outside world as it is a place of open magic and strangeness versus the outside world which is void of magic and ordinary.
As is shown in the above examples, foils are a type of juxtaposition. They apply specifically to characters who highlight differences in other characters.
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