anagnorisis

American  

[an-ag-nawr-uh-sis, -nohr-] / ˌæn ægˈnɔr ə sɪs, -ˈnoʊr- /

noun

plural

anagnorises

1. (in ancient Greek tragedy) the critical moment of recognition or discovery, especially preceding peripeteia.

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anagnorisis British  

/ ˌænəɡˈnɒrɪsɪs /

noun

1. (in Greek tragedy) the recognition or discovery by the protagonist of the identity of some character or the nature of his own predicament, which leads to the resolution of the plot; denouement

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Etymology

Origin of anagnorisis

1790–1800; < Latin < Greek, equivalent to anagnōrí ( zein ) to know again ( ana- ana- + gnōr-, cognate with Latin -gnōr- in ignōrāre to ignore + -izein -ize ) + -sis -sis; perhaps gnōr- from adj. derivative *gnō-ró- knowing

Explanation

Anagnorisis is the crucial moment in a play, movie, or book when a character makes a stunning discovery. When Dorothy realizes that the red shoes could've taken her home from Oz the whole time, that's anagnorisis. Anagnorisis is a Greek word meaning "recognition," and in ancient Greek literature the term referred to a hero's sudden realization of a situation's reality or the nature of a relationship with another character. The classic example is the moment Oedipus realizes he's killed his father and married his mother. Star Wars fans will recognize anagnorisis when Darth Vader says, "I am your father" in The Empire Strikes Back.

Example Sentences

It’s an example of anagnorisis, the recognition of a character’s true nature, a literary device reaching back to Oedipus and beyond.

From New York Times • Feb. 3, 2023

It cannot contain an anagnorisis because there is no solution to its problems.

From Slate • Dec. 14, 2018