Complete the sentence.

The reversal of fortune of a tragic hero is called _______.

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UP TGT English 2013 Official Paper
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  1. catharsis
  2. peripeteia
  3. epistle
  4. poesis

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 2 : peripeteia
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UP TGT Arts Full Test 1
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Detailed Solution

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The correct answer is 'Peripeteia'.

Key Points

Peripeteia is a sudden change in a story that results in a negative reversal of circumstances.

  • Peripeteia is also known as the turning point, the place in which the tragic protagonist’s fortune changes from good to bad.
  • This literary device is meant to surprise the audience but is also meant to follow as a result of a character’s previous actions or mistakes. 
  • Sophocles' Oedipus Rex is a classical example of peripeteia.
    • The peripeteia occurs when Oedipus learns of his parents’ true identity from the messenger.
    • He realizes he has murdered his father and married his mother, according to the prophecy.
    • Abruptly, his good fortune is ruined and he stabs his eyes out in dismay.

Thus, we can say that the reversal of the fortune of a tragic hero is called peripeteia.

Additional Information

Lets' look at the meaning of the other given options:

  • Catharsis means cleansing of emotions. 
    • A cathartic experience refers to an experience in which the audience or reader experiences the same emotions that the characters are experiencing on stage or on the page.
  • An Epistle refers to a letter in the form of prose or poetry to a particular person or group.
    • It can also be a story or a religious sermon similar to the New Testament letters written by Paul, Peter, and John to their church congregation or a small group of believers. 
  • Poesis refers to the poem especially collective poems or verses.

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