What is peripeteia in a literary work?

What is peripeteia in a literary work?

• A. An abrupt reversal of fortune where the hero's status changes from safe to endangered.
• B. An extensive description of the setting.
• C. A chronological list of events.
• D. A focal moment of comic relief.

Answer: (A)

Peripeteia is an abrupt reversal of fortune in a story, where the hero’s situation flips from safe to endangered (or from prosperity to ruin). That sudden shift drives the plot in a new direction and heightens the emotional impact, often setting up the eventual outcome of the drama. It’s a device highlighted in classical tragedy for its power to surprise the audience and how it alters the protagonist’s path, sometimes leading to a moment of recognition that clarifies the true situation. This concept is distinct from merely describing the setting, listing events, or providing comic relief; it’s about the crucial turning point that changes the course of the narrative.

Peripeteia is an abrupt reversal of fortune in a story, where the hero’s situation flips from safe to endangered (or from prosperity to ruin). That sudden shift drives the plot in a new direction and heightens the emotional impact, often setting up the eventual outcome of the drama. It’s a device highlighted in classical tragedy for its power to surprise the audience and how it alters the protagonist’s path, sometimes leading to a moment of recognition that clarifies the true situation. This concept is distinct from merely describing the setting, listing events, or providing comic relief; it’s about the crucial turning point that changes the course of the narrative.