Which term refers to placing two contrasting ideas side by side for comparison?

• A. Juxtaposition
• B. Metaphor
• C. Irony
• D. Simile

Answer: (A)

Juxtaposition is the technique of placing two contrasting ideas side by side to highlight their differences or invite comparison. This arrangement makes the tension between the ideas more noticeable, helping you see contrasts that aren’t obvious when described separately. That’s exactly what this term captures: the act of putting opposing concepts next to each other for analysis or emphasis.

Metaphor and simile, by contrast, hinge on direct comparisons—one thing is another, or one thing is described as like another—without the deliberate side-by-side contrast that juxtaposition emphasizes. Irony focuses on a gap between expectation and reality or between what is said and what is meant, rather than on presenting contrasting ideas in close proximity for comparison.