Juxtaposition is the placement of two things side by side for the purpose of comparison, contrast, or mutual illumination. The proximity itself creates meaning.

A writer may set a scene of wealth next to a scene of poverty, a character’s youthful idealism next to later corruption, or a delicate image next to a brutal one. The reader is invited to notice the relationship—harmony, dissonance, irony, or unexpected similarity. Juxtaposition works in poetry, prose, film, and visual art. It is a fundamental technique of montage and of thematic structure.

Unlike simple comparison, juxtaposition does not always state the connection; it relies on the audience to perceive it. The effect can be subtle or shocking depending on the distance between the paired elements. Skillful juxtaposition feels revealing rather than arbitrary; the two items must have enough in common for the contrast or parallel to matter.

When two elements are placed close together so that their relationship sparks, the technique is juxtaposition.