anagnorisis

English

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἀναγνώρισις (anagnṓrisis), from ἀναγνωρίζειν (anagnōrízein, “to recognise, discover”).

Noun

anagnorisis (countable and uncountable, plural anagnorises)

1. The moment in the plot of a drama in which the hero makes a discovery that explains previously unexplained events or situations; a denouement.
   • 1990, Camille Paglia, Sexual Personae:

     His heroines never have a true anagnorisis because the moral fault is never in themselves, only in outside conspirators.

Translations

moment in the plot when a character makes a critical discovery

• Dutch: anagnorisis f
• Polish: anagnoryzm m
• Portuguese: anagnórise f
• Swedish: anagnorisis n

Dutch

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἀναγνώρισις (anagnṓrisis).

Noun

anagnorisis f (plural anagnorises)

1. (narratology) anagnorisis

Swedish

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἀναγνώρισις (anagnṓrisis).

Noun

anagnorisis n

1. (narratology) anagnorisis
   • 1986, Gunilla Domellöf, “Kapitel IV. Karin Boye och prosamodernismen”, in I oss är en mångfald levande, page 221:

     Det tredje ledet, anagnorisis, återuppståndelsen eller igenkännande som vid årsfesterna symboliseras av att trädet med sin nyutspruckna lövprakt bärs in som bevis på att livet ännu en gång återvänt, omtalas ofast enbart i mysteriespelen och ageras inte ut.

     The third element, anagnorisis, the resurrection, or recognition, which is symbolized at the annual festivals by the tree being carried in with its newly sprung foliage as evidence that life has once again returned, is most often mentioned only in the mystery plays and is not acted out.

   • 2004, Kjell-Arne Brändström, et al., “Kung Fjalar. Kommentar av Kjell-Arne Brändström”, in Samlade skrifter XII:2, page 294:

     I slutet får vi bevittna hur Fjalar, då han på höjden av sin självtillit får veta sanningen om sina barns öde, når fram till insikt om sin egen identitet. Detta sker genom yttre »anagnorisis», i Hjalmars berättelse, men främst genom inre: Avklädd sin rustning kommer Fjalar till insikt om sin maktlöshet. »Anagnorisis» kommer tematiskt och strukturellt också till uttryck som ett förhållande mellan att se och att inse.

     In the end, we witness how Fjalar, when at the height of his self-confidence, learns the truth about his children's fate and comes to realize his own identity. This occurs through an outer "anagnorisis," in Hjalmar's narrative, but primarily through inner revelation: Stripped of his armor, Fjalar becomes aware of his powerlessness. "Anagnorisis" thematically and structurally also expresses a relationship between seeing and realizing.