peripeteia

peripeteia
/per'euh pi tuy"euh, -tee"euh/, n.
a sudden turn of events or an unexpected reversal, esp. in a literary work.
Also, peripetia, peripety /peuh rip"i tee/.
[1585-95; < Gk peripéteia sudden change, equiv. to peripet(és) lit., falling round (peri- PERI- + pet-, base of píptein to fall) + -eia -Y3]

* * *

▪ drama
Greek:“reversal”

      the turning point in a drama after which the plot moves steadily to its denouement. It is discussed by Aristotle in the Poetics as the shift of the tragic protagonist's fortune from good to bad, which is essential to the plot of a tragedy. It is often an ironic twist, as in Sophocles' Oedipus Rex when a messenger brings Oedipus news about his parents that he thinks will cheer him, but the news instead slowly brings about the awful recognition that leads to Oedipus's catastrophe.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Peripeteia — (Greek, polytonic|Περιπέτεια) is a reversal of circumstances, or turning point. The term is primarily used with reference to works of literature. The English form of peripeteia is Peripety . Peripety is a sudden reversal dependent on intellect… …   Wikipedia

  • peripeteia — (n.) also peripetia, 1590s, from Gk. peripeteia a turn right about, from peri around (see PERI (Cf. peri )) + stem of piptein to fall (see PETITION (Cf. petition)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • peripeteia — [pə rip′ə tēper΄ə pi tē′ə, per΄ə pitī′ə] n. [Gr, reversal < peripetēs, falling in with, changing suddenly < peri , around (see PERI ) + piptein, to fall (see FEATHER)] a sudden change of fortune or reversal of circumstances, as in a drama:… …   English World dictionary

  • peripeteia — noun /pɛrɪpɪˈtɪə/ a reversal of fortune; a sudden change in circumstances , 1965: Once more I was a man in a myth, incapable of understanding it, but somehow aware that understanding it meant it must continue, however sinister its peripeteia.… …   Wiktionary

  • peripeteia — [ˌpɛrɪpɪ tʌɪə, ti:ə] noun formal a sudden reversal of fortune or change in circumstances. Origin C16: from Gk peripeteia sudden change , from peri around + the stem of piptein to fall …   English new terms dictionary

  • peripeteia — per•i•pe•tei•a or per•i•pe•ti•a [[t]ˌpɛr ə pɪˈtaɪ ə, ˈti ə[/t]] n. pl. tei•as or ti•as lit. a sudden turn of events or an unexpected reversal, esp. in a literary work • Etymology: 1585–95; < Gk peripéteia sudden change …   From formal English to slang

  • peripeteia — noun Etymology: Greek, from peripiptein to fall around, change suddenly, from peri + piptein to fall more at feather Date: 1591 a sudden or unexpected reversal of circumstances or situation especially in a literary work …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • peripeteia — perɪpÉ™ taɪə , tɪːə n. sudden change in events, sudden reversal of circumstances (especially in a literary work) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • peripeteia — peri·pe·teia …   English syllables

  • peripeteia — /ˌpɛripəˈtaɪə/ (say .pereepuh tuyuh), / ˈtiə/ (say teeuh) noun a sudden reversal or change of fortune, especially in a dramatic work. {Greek} …  

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”