peripeteia
Say it: peh-rih-puh-TY-uh /ˌpɛrɪpɪˈtaɪə/ · noun
What “peripeteia” means
A sudden change that turns a character's situation around.
More precisely: A sudden reversal of fortune or circumstances in a story.
Example: “The series' peripeteia comes when the billionaire hero loses everything overnight.”
When to use it
A literary term for a sudden plot reversal that changes a character's fortunes, often from success to disaster.
Similar words
reversal, twist, turnaround
Where it comes from
Greek, 'sudden change'.
Quick check
Just as a prince is crowned, his guards arrest him and hand the crown to his rival. That's…
the denouement or peripeteia?
Show the answer
peripeteia
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