peripetia
- noun
- /ˌpɛrəˈpɛtiə/
- Literature
:
peripeteia
- In the play, the hero experiences a peripetia when he loses everything after a single mistake.
Examples
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The movie's peripetia occurs when the protagonist discovers his long-lost brother is actually the villain.
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Her promotion was a peripetia in her career, turning her from a struggling employee into a confident leader.
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It's called peripeteio or peripetia.
Synonyms
343
3.4
A sudden change in a situation or story
35
4.1
A sudden change in a situation that makes plans or results different
2
4.2
A surprising event in a story that changes the expected outcome
A sudden change in a story when a character's luck turns bad
A sudden turn in a story that changes the main character's situation
Antonyms
Surface Forms
Etymology
Peripetia comes from Greek parts meaning 'around', the peri- you see in perimeter, and 'to fall'. So, peripetia gives the image of a sudden 'turning' or 'fall' in a story, which is why it means a big reversal that changes a character's fate.