What is the difference between juxtaposition and an oxymoron?
Juxtaposition and oxymorons are both literary devices that involve contrasting elements; however, they differ in scope and function.
- In juxtaposition, a writer places two or more ideas, characters, or images side by side to highlight the differences and similarities between them. The interpretation of this relationship is up to the audience. A juxtaposition can span one line or an entire story, depending on the contrasted elements.
- An oxymoron, on the other hand, involves combining two words or ideas with opposing meanings. Unlike juxtaposition, an oxymoron always involves a degree of contradiction within the combination of terms.
In other words, juxtaposition is about placing elements so as to compare them, while an oxymoron involves the deliberate combination of contradictory terms.