In the world of literature, few things are as satisfying as a good twist. Enter anagnorisis, a fancy Greek term for that mind-blowing moment when a character suddenly realizes a shocking truth.

Ah, Oedipus Rex—the ancient Greek tragedy that taught us all a valuable life lesson: don’t try to outsmart fate. At the heart of this classic play lies a peripeteia, a dramatic reversal of fortune that hits poor Oedipus like a freight train.

Ah, Macbeth—a classic tale of unchecked ambition, witches, and, of course, peripeteia. What’s that, you ask? Well, peripeteia is the point in a story where everything flips.

In the world of literature, there’s nothing more fascinating than watching a character build their own downfall—courtesy of hamartia.

Ever heard someone say, “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse”? Spoiler: they’re probably not planning to chow down on an actual horse. That’s hyperbole—a fancy word for ridiculous exaggeration used to make a point.

A tragic hero is the literary equivalent of that one friend who has everything going for them… until they don’t. You know the type: brave, noble, and destined for greatness, but tragically flawed in a way that guarantees their downfall.

Ever had one of those “Aha!” moments where everything just clicks, and suddenly the meaning of life (or maybe just where you left your keys) becomes crystal clear? That’s what we call an epiphany, and in literature, it’s a game-changer.

Ever notice how certain words just feel a certain way, even though they technically mean the same thing? That’s connotation at work! In literature, connotation refers to the emotions, ideas, or cultural associations that a word carries along with its literal definition.