Here's a breakdown:
* Epiphany: A moment of sudden and profound realization or understanding, often triggered by a seemingly insignificant event. It can be a shift in perspective, a newfound understanding of oneself or the world, or a recognition of a deeper meaning in a situation.
Examples:
* In James Joyce's "The Dead," Gabriel Conroy experiences an epiphany when he realizes the true extent of his wife's love for a deceased suitor.
* In Leo Tolstoy's "The Death of Ivan Ilyich," the protagonist undergoes a series of epiphanies as he faces his own mortality.
Characteristics of Epiphany:
* Suddenness: The revelation occurs unexpectedly, often in a moment of clarity.
* Profoundness: The insight is significant and often life-changing.
* Transformative: The epiphany can lead to a change in the character's beliefs, values, or actions.
* Often brief: The epiphany itself is usually a concise moment, but its impact can be lasting.
Other literary techniques that can create a similar effect to an epiphany include:
* Deus ex machina: A sudden and unexpected intervention by an outside force to resolve a conflict.
* Peripeteia: A sudden reversal of fortune, often leading to a change in the protagonist's situation.
However, an epiphany is distinct from these other techniques because it focuses on the character's internal realization rather than an external event.