Juxtaposition

Juxtaposition is a literary device in which two or more ideas, places, or characters are placed side by side to contrast each other. Essentially, juxtaposition is when two ideas, places, or characters are complete opposites of each other.

Why Writers Use It: By placing two words or ideas next to one another, we can highlight the differences between them. Juxtaposition can be used on a small scale (like between words or images) or on a large scale (like between two characters or storylines).

JUXTAPOSITION

Juxtaposition in Everyday Life How does this photo from Houston, Texas demonstrate juxtaposition? Turn to a partner and discuss

Juxtaposition in Hip-Hop “Yeah, yeah, I’m a up at Brooklyn, now I’m down in Tribeca Right next to De Niro, but I’ll be hood forever” - Jay-Z, “Empire State of Mind”

Juxtaposition in Shakespeare “Merry and tragical? Tedious and brief? That is hot ice, and wondrous strange snow! How shall we find the concord of this discord?” - Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Act V, Scene i

Your turn! Juxtaposing places? Juxtaposing characters? Juxtaposing ideas?

Juxtaposition in Literature Within “The Bet,” can you find an example of juxtaposition? Work with a partner to see if you can identify juxtaposition within Chekhov’s short story.

Be aware that the theme never completely explains the story. It is simply one of the elements that make up the whole. Some works have secondary themes as well.

Theme

Theme = idea The theme of a literary work is its underlying central idea or the generalization it communicates about life.

Thematic statements should always be expressed in a complete sentence. Writing About Theme #1 Thematic statements should always be expressed in a complete sentence. Bad: Motherhood Good: Motherhood sometimes has more frustrations than rewards. Bad: Love Good: Love often causes us to do things we wouldn’t normally do.

Writing About Theme #2 Should be generalizations. Don’t use character names and story specifics Good: “Often forgiveness comes with the confession and acceptance of responsibility for a wrongdoing.” Bad: “Hester Prynne by confessing her sin and accepting responsibility finds forgiveness.”

Writing About Theme #3 Terms like every, all, never, always should be avoided. Use some, often, frequently instead. Good: “A person whose honesty has often made her susceptible to the strong will of others may reach a point where she stands up for herself or others. Bad: “Habitually compliant and tolerant mothers eventually stand up to their children.

Avoid (like the plague 😂 ) using clichés as theme statements. Writing About Theme #4 Avoid (like the plague 😂 ) using clichés as theme statements. Although these are often accurate, they undercut what you are trying to say by making your point seem elementary. “Don’t judge a book by the cover” “Early bird catches the worm” “What goes around comes around”

Writing About Theme #5 A thematic statement is not a moral/lesson. It is a comment on the human condition; therefore, it is universal. BAD: “You should always admit when you have done something wrong if you want to be forgiven” GOOD: “Often forgiveness comes with the confession and acceptance of responsibility for a wrongdoing.”

You should never judge a book by it’s cover. What is wrong? THEME- You should never judge a book by it’s cover.