In Aristotle's tragedy, what term refers to the turning point when the protagonist's fortune reverses?

• A. Anagnorisis
• B. Hamartia
• C. Catharsis
• D. Peripeteia

Answer: (D)

The turning point in Aristotle's tragedy is peripeteia, the moment when a character’s fortune dramatically reverses. This reversal shifts the course of the plot, turning a rising situation into a fall or a fall into further trouble, and it often reorients the audience’s understanding of the hero and the stakes. Peripeteia is the plot twist that drives the narrative toward its climax and final catastrophe.

Anagnorisis is the moment of recognition or discovery—when the protagonist realizes something crucial about themselves or their situation. Hamartia is the tragic flaw that contributes to the reversal’s onset. Catharsis is the emotional release or purging experienced by the audience as the tragedy unfolds.