2. Juxtaposition
Juxtaposition (pronounced juhk-stuh-puh--zish--uh-n) is
the placement of two or more things side by side, often in
order to bring out their differences. Imagine a man
walking a well-groomed dog on a pink leash on one hand
and a rough Rottweiler on a spiked collar on the other
hand.
The juxtaposition could be shocking, humorous, or just
plain strange. Regardless, this literary term calls attention
to two distinctly different things by placing them right
beside one another, or juxtaposing them.
3. For example: All’s fair in love
and war
Love and war, two opposite concepts, are placed
beside one another. The juxtaposition of love and
war serves to
show that despite how different the two are, both
are characterized by a lack of rules or guidelines.
4. Juxtaposition can occur in literature
between characters, settings,
events, ideas, or actions in order to
encourage the reader to compare
and contrast the entities.
5. “ Coelho juxtaposes the Crystal Merchant
and Santiago in order for readers to clearly
understand that the Crystal
Merchant is Santiago’s foil.”
6. In this context, the statement means that the
author, Coelho, has intentionally placed the
Crystal Merchant and Santiago side by side or in
close proximity in the story to highlight their
contrasting characteristics and qualities. The
Crystal Merchant serves as Santiago's foil, which
means that he acts as a contrasting character
who emphasizes Santiago's traits and attributes
by being their opposite.
7. By juxtaposing the Crystal Merchant and
Santiago, Coelho allows readers to clearly
see the differences between them. The
Crystal Merchant may represent
complacency, fear of change, or a lack of
ambition, while Santiago embodies
curiosity, a sense of adventure, and a
willingness to pursue his dreams. The
contrast between the two characters helps
to emphasize Santiago's unique qualities
and the choices he makes throughout his
journey.
8. The purpose of this juxtaposition is to
enhance the reader's understanding
of Santiago's growth and
transformation. By comparing him to
the Crystal Merchant, readers can
better appreciate Santiago's
determination, courage, and
willingness to take risks in pursuit of
his personal legend.
9. Literature format for short answer
questions:
1. Introductory sentence: In the novel
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho …..
2. Answer the question (in this case
responding to why these two characters
are juxtaposed)
3. Provide evidence to support answer
4. Concluding sentence
10. Activity:
Identify another character that
Santiago is juxtaposed with and
write a paragraph, using the
literature format, to answer the
question. (20 pts)
