Juxtaposition vs Oxymoron
Juxtaposition refers to placing two words or objects close to each other, often as a figure of speech, to enhance the beauty of writing and surprise readers. In linguistics, it is also known as contrast. Oxymoron is another tool writers use to captivate readers by placing contrasting elements together, specifically by positioning two opposing concepts adjacent to each other. Many English language students struggle to understand the distinction between these two figures of speech. This article aims to clarify the difference between juxtaposition and oxymoron by explaining their usage.
What is Juxtaposition?
Juxtaposition is a figure of speech used by authors to place two abstract concepts near to each other in their compositions, leaving it to the reader to infer or draw the meaning. These can be words or phrases that contradict each other, but they are not necessarily positioned side by side or immediately next to each other. In fact, such words can be a couple of paragraphs apart. Consider the following sentences:
I know it is raining outside, but I do not plan to take an umbrella with me.
Helen did not wear a jacket despite knowing it was snowing outside.
What is Oxymoron?
Oxymoron is a type of juxtaposition in which the author cleverly places opposites or words that contradict each other directly next to each other to create irony. For example, “fried water” is an oxymoron, as there is no such thing, but the author likely has another intention in mind. “Icy heat” is another oxymoron example where the author presents an idea with contradicting abstract concepts positioned next to each other in a single statement. When an English language student encounters an oxymoron, they may be perplexed, as it can be challenging to process opposite ideas placed so closely together. “Living dead” and “guest host” are other oxymoron examples frequently used by writers to enhance their text or surprise readers.
Key Takeaways
- Oxymoron is a specific type of juxtaposition where contrasting words are placed directly next to each other, whereas in a juxtaposition, the opposing words may be far apart.
- Positioning opposing abstract concepts next to each other in a sentence is a linguistic tool called oxymoron, used as a figure of speech by writers.
- When the contradicting words are not immediately next to each other, the tool is known as juxtaposition.
