Juxtaposition = Placing two things side by side (physically or in text).

Oxymoron = A phrase that combines contradictory terms (e.g., “deafening silence,” “bittersweet”).

Why Use Juxtaposition?

It grabs attention, deepens meaning, and makes the audience think differently about the subjects being compared.

Would you like examples from a specific book, movie, or artwork?

1. “The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W. Jacobs

Juxtaposition: Wishes vs. Consequences

The Whites jokingly wish for £200, only to receive it as compensation for their son’s gruesome death at work.

The cozy, domestic setting of their home contrasts with the horrifying knock at the door at the end.

Effect: The story highlights how desire and tragedy are unnervingly close—what seems like a blessing is actually a curse.

2. “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson

Juxtaposition: Ordinary Village Life vs. Brutal Ritual

The story opens with a cheerful, sunny day—children playing, neighbors chatting—yet ends with a barbaric stoning.

The lottery is treated as a normal tradition, like a town picnic, making the violence even more shocking.

Effect: The contrast exposes how cruelty can hide beneath the surface of “civilized” society.

3. “The Little Things” (Assuming you mean the short story by Raymond Carver, later adapted into the film The Night Comes for Us)

Juxtaposition: Domestic Mundanity vs. Impending Violence

A couple’s ordinary conversation about chores and errands is interrupted by an intruder’s threat.

The title itself (“The Little Things”) contrasts with the life-or-death stakes of the situation.

Effect: The banality of daily life makes the sudden danger feel more jarring.