Juxtaposition

Juxtaposition is a literary device that implies comparison or contrast. Writers create juxtaposition by placing two entities side by side to create dramatic or ironic contrast. Juxtaposition is a form of implied comparison in that there is no overt comparison or inference on the part of the writer. This allows the reader to discern how the paired entities are similar or different. Writers use juxtaposition for rhetorical effect by placing two entities side by side in order to highlight their differences. These divergent elements can include people, ideas, things, places, behaviors, and characteristics.

Examples:

• Kansas and Oz in The Wizard of Oz
• "Friends" and "Enemies" in The Things They Carried
• Light and Dark
• East Egg and West Egg in The Great Gatsby