Juxtaposition
Placing two contrasting elements side by side to highlight their differences.
Juxtaposition sets images, characters, or ideas next to each other so the contrast becomes meaningful. Writers use it to sharpen comparison, expose hypocrisy, or deepen theme. The friction between the paired elements often produces irony or insight.
Example
The cheerful summer morning is juxtaposed with the savage ritual that follows, making the violence feel even more disturbing by contrast.
The Lottery · Shirley Jackson
See it in action
Analyses on StoryBites that use juxtaposition: