examples of an epiphany essay

What is an Epiphany?

Epiphany definition.

An epiphany is a sudden realization or discovery that illuminates a new perception or awareness. Epiphany is often used to describe a rapid feeling of clarity or insight in terms of finding an essential meaning or solution–what many describe as an “aha!” moment. Epiphanies often take place at the climax of the story arc.

Use of Epiphany in Literature

Writers may use epiphany to demonstrate a character ’s sudden understanding of a problem or situation that manifests a turning point in the story. Epiphany is often used as a literary device in the following genres :

• Science Fiction

As the character experiences an epiphany, it is likely that the reader will undergo a similar experience of sudden realization or discovery as well.

A Common Example of Epiphany

Let us consider an epiphany of a smoker:

I used to smoke a lot. Everyone let me know that it was bad for my health however, I didn’t pay any notice. One day I saw my two-year-old baby trying to grab a stubbed-out cigarette from the ashtray. Seeing this, it suddenly dawned on me how terrible smoking was, and I stopped smoking.

So, this sudden feeling of knowledge that brings to light what was so far hidden, and changes one’s life, is called epiphany.

Examples of Epiphany in Literature

Let us analyze some epiphany examples from different genres of literature.

Example #1: Animal Farm (By George Orwell)

Animal Farm , written by George Orwell , is an epiphany that uses animals on a farm to describe the overthrow of the last Russian Tsar, Nicholas II, and the Communist Revolution of Russia before WWI. The actions of the animals on the farm are used to expose the greed and corruption of the revolution. It also describes how powerful people can change the ideology of a society. One of the cardinal rules on the farm is this:

All Animals are Equal but a few are more equal than others.

The animals on the farm represent different sections of Russian society after the revolution.

For instance, the pigs represent those who came to power following the revolution; “Mr. Jones,” the owner of the farm, represents the overthrown Tsar Nicholas II; while “Boxer” the horse, represents the laborer class. The use of Epiphany in the novel allows Orwell to make his position clear about the Russian Revolution and expose its evils.

Example #2: Hamlet (By William Shakespeare)

William Shakespeare also makes use of an epiphany in his play Hamlet . It is when Hamlet , the hero , is on a ship sailing to England. Till then, he was over-burdened with thinking and planning a flawless revenge on his father’s murderer, Claudius. Suddenly there is a flash of realization and he says:

[T]here is a divinity that shapes our ends, rough-hew them how we will.

He realizes that there is no wisdom for him in trying to inflict the perfect revenge on Claudius – he must take hold of the moment and go with the current.

Example #3: Miss Brill (By Katherine Manfield)

We find another example of epiphany in the short story Miss Brill , written by Katherine Manfield. Miss Brill, being delighted to be part of the season in the Jardins Publique, particularly on Sundays, prepares herself for the occasion on a chilly day. She wears her fur coat, and walks towards a band playing music in the park. She sees life everywhere around her. It pleases her to imagine that she is part of all that takes place. In a flash of epiphany, she recognizes that she and everyone else in the park are mere actors, acting out their roles. There was nothing important about that gathering of actors and she was alone despite being with a crowd.

Function of Epiphany

The purpose of epiphany in a novel or a short story is to point out a turning point for a character, or in the plot , in the near future. It may also be used to change the opinion of one character about other characters, events, and places after a sudden awareness of the situation. It may also be a sign of a conclusion in the story.

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Epiphany Meaning and Examples

How are epiphanies used in literature?

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An  Epiphany is a term in literary criticism for a sudden realization, a flash of recognition, in which someone or something is seen in a new light.

In Stephen Hero (1904), Irish author James Joyce used the term epiphany to describe the moment when the "soul of the commonest object . . . seems to us radiant. The object achieves it epiphany." Novelist Joseph Conrad described epiphany as "one of those rare moments of awakening" in which "everything [occurs] in a flash." Epiphanies may be evoked in works of nonfiction as well as in short stories and novels.

The word epiphany comes from the Greek for a "manifestation" or "showing forth." In Christian churches, the feast following the twelve days of Christmas (January 6) is called Epiphany because it celebrates the appearance of divinity (the Christ child) to the Wise Men.

Examples of Literary Epiphanies

Epiphanies are a common storytelling device because part of what makes a good story is a character who grows and changes. A sudden realization can signify a turning point for a character when they finally understand something that the story has been trying to teach them all along. It is often used well at the end of mystery novels when the saluteth finally receives the last clue that makes all the pieces of the puzzle make sense. A good novelist can often lead the readers to such epiphanies along with their characters. 

Epiphany in the Short Story "Miss Brill" by Katherine Mansfield

"In the story of the same name Miss ​B rill discovers such annihilation when her own identity as onlooker and imagined choreographer to the rest of her small world crumbles in the reality of loneliness. The imagined conversations she has with other people become, when overheard in reality, the onset of her destruction. A young couple on her park bench—'the hero and the heroine' of Miss Brill's own fictive drama, 'just arrived from his father's yacht' . . . —are transformed by reality into two young people who cannot accept the aging woman who sits near them. The boy refers to her as 'that stupid old thing at the end' of the bench and openly expresses the very question that Miss Brill has been trying so desperately to avoid through her Sunday charades in the park: 'Why does she come here at all--who wants her?' Miss Brill's epiphany forces her to forgo the usual slice of honeycake at the baker's on her way home, and home, like life, has changed. It is now 'a little dark room . . . like a cupboard.' Both life and home have become suffocating. Miss Brill's loneliness is forced upon her in one transformative moment of acknowledgment of reality."

(Karla Alwes, "Katherine Mansfield." Modern British Women Writers: An A-to-Z Guide , ed. by Vicki K. Janik and Del Ivan Janik. Greenwood, 2002)

Harry (Rabbit) Angstrom's Epiphany in Rabbit, Run

"They reach the tee, a platform of turf beside a hunchbacked fruit tree offering fists of taut ivory-colored buds. 'Let me go first,' Rabbit says. ''Til you calm down.' His heart is hushed, held in mid-beat, by anger. He doesn't care about anything except getting out of this tangle. He wants it to rain. In avoiding looking at Eccles he looks at the ball, which sits high on the tee and already seems free of the ground. Very simply he brings the clubhead around his shoulder into it. The sound has a hollowness, a singleness he hasn't heard before. His arms force his head up and his ball is hung way out, lunarly pale against the beautiful black blue of storm clouds, his grandfather's color stretched dense across the north. It recedes along a line straight as a ruler-edge. Stricken; sphere, star, speck. It hesitates, and Rabbit thinks it will die, but he's fooled, for the ball makes its hesitation the ground of a final leap: with a kind of visible sob takes a last bite of space before vanishing in falling. 'That's it!' he cries and, turning to Eccles with a grin of aggrandizement, repeats, 'That's it.'"

(John Updike, Rabbit, Run . Alfred A. Knopf, 1960)

"The passage quoted from the first of John Updike 's Rabbit novels describes an action in a contest, but it is the intensity of the moment, not its consequences, that [is] important (we never discover whether the hero won that particular hole). . . . "In epiphanies, prose fiction comes closest to the verbal intensity of lyric poetry (most modern lyrics are in fact nothing but epiphanies); so epiphanic description is likely to be rich in figures of speech and sound. Updike is a writer prodigally gifted with the power of metaphoric speech. . . . When Rabbit turns to Eccles and cries triumphantly, 'That's it!' he is answering the minister's question about what is lacking in his marriage. . . . Perhaps in Rabbit's cry of 'That's it!' we also hear an echo of the writer's justifiable satisfaction at having revealed, through language, the radiant soul of a well-struck tee shot."

(David Lodge, The Art of Fiction . Viking, 1993)

Critical Observations on Epiphany

It is a literary critics job to analyze and discuss the ways authors use epiphanies in novels. 

"The critic's function is to find ways of recognizing and judging the epiphanies of literature which, like those of life itself (Joyce borrowed his use of the term 'epiphany' directly from theology), are partial disclosures or revelations, or 'spiritual matches struck unexpectedly in the dark.'"

(Colin Falck, Myth, Truth, and Literature: Towards a True Post-Modernism , 2nd ed. Cambridge Univ. Press, 1994)

"The definition Joyce gave of epiphany in Stephen Hero depends on a familiar world of objects of use—a clock one passes every day. The epiphany restores the clock to itself in one act of seeing, of experiencing it for the first time."

(Monroe Engel, Uses of Literature . Harvard University Press, 1973)

• Miss Brill's Fragile Fantasy
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• Flash Fiction From Baudelaire to Lydia Davis
• What Is a Written Summary?
• Biography of John Updike, Pulitzer Prize Winning American Author
• Reciprocal Pronoun Definition and Examples
• The Reward and the Road Back
• An Early Verson of Flash Fiction by Poet Langston Hughes
• Classic British and American Essays and Speeches
• 'Pride and Prejudice' Quotes Explained
• Introduction to Magical Realism
• 10 Important Contemporary and Late-20th-Century Authors
• Critical Analysis in Composition
• Biography of Kate Chopin, American Author and Protofeminist
• A List of Every Nobel Prize Winner in Literature
• Rising Action in Literature

• Literary Terms
• When & How to Write an Epiphany
• Definition & Examples

How to Write an Epiphany

In order to use epiphany,

• Begin with a story rooted in an everyday occurrence.
• Insert a moment of revelation, or epiphany, into the story.

For example, consider a boy who is mowing the lawn.

Everyday occurrence:

A boy is mowing the lawn.

Moment of epiphany:

He realizes he wants to be an engineer.

Story with epiphany:

A boy is mowing the lawn when he begins thinking about the last math problem he had in class. He realizes that he would be happier if he were working on math rather than doing chores. At that moment, he decides he’s going to become an engineer.

Moments of epiphany can come at any time. Perhaps being busied with chores made this boy realize what he would ultimately rather be doing: engineering work.

For another example, imagine a woman who is stuck in traffic on the way to work.

A woman is stuck in traffic on her way to work.

She realizes she does not want to go to her office in the accounting firm, and that her true calling is to be a hairdresser.

A woman is stuck in major traffic on her way to work. Sitting uncomfortably in her car, she realizes she does not want to go to her office in the accounting firm, and that her true calling is to be a hairdresser. That day, she gives her two weeks’ notice before quitting and attending beauty school.

In this example, boredom in traffic is what gives way to an exciting and life-changing epiphany.  

When to use Epiphany

Epiphany is a remarkable device in that it occurs rarely. Epiphany, by definition, should arise in the character’s mind miraculously and suddenly, often in the midst of everyday activities. Because epiphany is such a momentous occurrence, it should only occur in stories rarely. Often, epiphanies are used as a turning point before a story’s conclusion. Usually, epiphanies occur towards the end of a story, after rising action, and after a character has struggled through life without the revelation. After the epiphany, the story can be concluded as the character has seen things in a new light and has made positive life changes due to that realization.

List of Terms

• Alliteration
• Amplification
• Anachronism
• Anthropomorphism
• Antonomasia
• APA Citation
• Aposiopesis
• Autobiography
• Bildungsroman
• Characterization
• Circumlocution
• Cliffhanger
• Comic Relief
• Connotation
• Deus ex machina
• Deuteragonist
• Doppelganger
• Double Entendre
• Dramatic irony
• Equivocation
• Extended Metaphor
• Figures of Speech
• Flash-forward
• Foreshadowing
• Intertextuality
• Juxtaposition
• Literary Device
• Malapropism
• Onomatopoeia
• Parallelism
• Pathetic Fallacy
• Personification
• Point of View
• Polysyndeton
• Protagonist
• Red Herring
• Rhetorical Device
• Rhetorical Question
• Science Fiction
• Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
• Synesthesia
• Turning Point
• Understatement
• Urban Legend
• Verisimilitude
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Literary Devices

Literary devices, terms, and elements, definition of epiphany.

When used as a literary device, an epiphany is a moment in which there is a sudden realization that leads to a new perspective that clarifies a problem or situation. A character may have an epiphany, or it may also occur in the narration such that the reader has the epiphany.

The word epiphany comes from the Greek word epiphainein , meaning “reveal” or “striking appearance.” Historically, the concept of epiphany evolved as a religious term and generally referred to insights that come from a divine source. There is a definition of epiphany that also relates directly to the Christian church; the Feast of the Epiphany celebrates the revelation of Christ as the Son of God. There are similar moments of epiphany in other religions, such as the Buddha attaining enlightenment or the realization in Hinduism that Krishna is the representation of the Universe. Other terms are used to represent these epiphanies; in Hinduism there is the word bodhodaya , which means “rising wisdom,” while in Zen Buddhism there is the word kensho to describe the feeling of understanding the meaning of an enigmatic question or statement.

Common Examples of Epiphany

Epiphany is often associated with scientific discoveries and innovation. There are many famous examples of epiphany in the history of science, such as the following anecdotes:

• The ancient Greek mathematician and physicist Archimedes was tasked with calculating the density of a gold crown to ascertain whether it was pure gold; he was not allowed to melt down the crown for his calculations. When he got in the bathtub to take a break from his work, he realized that his volume displaced the same amount of water in the tub. He could use this fact to determine the volume of the crown, and thereby the density. When he realized this, he famously cried out the Greek word Eureka , meaning, “I have found it!”
• Isaac Newton was sitting below an apple tree when an apple fell on his head, which caused him to develop his Universal Law of Gravitation.
• Albert Einstein developed his Special Theory of Relativity after arriving home one night feeling defeated. He imagined having arrived home at the speed of light, and how the light from the town’s clock tower would not have reached him in his car, even though the clock inside the car would be ticking normally. This would make the time outside the car and inside the car just different enough to be striking.

You may have also had epiphanies in your daily life that have caused you to change your outlook on yourself, other people in your life, or the world at large.

Significance of Epiphany in Literature

While epiphanies are relatively rare in real life, they are somewhat common in literature. Most literature shows a change in a character’s nature from the beginning to the end of the work, and many of these changes are attended by an important epiphany on that character’s part. Epiphany is also a very important element in certain genre works, such as mystery novels. There is often an epiphany when all the clues are put together and the mystery is solved near the end of the book. For this reason, epiphany is also often related to the climax of a book, in which something occurs after which nothing is the same. An epiphany can have this effect by changing a character’s point-of-view or motivations.

Epiphany also has some significance for the author him- or herself, in that it can be such an important part of the creative process that the author does not quite know how a book will end until it is revealed in an epiphany. Some authors do like to attribute these epiphanies to “muses,” while others insist that the hard work of laboring over a story eventually leads the brain to make certain connections that originally did not seem clear.

Examples of Epiphany in Literature

EMILIA: O thou dull Moor! That handkerchief thou speak’st of I found by fortune and did give my husband. For often, with a solemn earnestness— More than indeed belonged to such a trifle— He begged of me to steal it.

( Othello by William Shakespeare)

The above speech is an important epiphany example from William Shakespeare’s Othello . In it, Emilia reveals in a moment of dramatic irony what the audience has known all along—Desdemona’s handkerchief was given to Cassio by Emilia, thus clearing Desdemona of guilt. Unfortunately, this epiphany comes too late for Othello. He has already murdered his wife, and the realization that she was innocent is enough to make Othello take his own life.

“Look’ee here, Pip. I’m your second father. You’re my son—more to me nor any son. I’ve put away money, only for you to spend. When I was a hired-out shepherd in a solitary hut, not seeing no faces but faces of sheep till I half-forgot wot men’s and women’s faces wos like, I see yourn. . . . I see you there a many times plain as ever I see you on them misty marshes. ‘Lord strike me dead!’ I says each time—and I goes out in the open air to say it under the open heavens—‘but wot, if I gets liberty and money, I’ll make that boy a gentleman!’ And I done it. Why, look at you, dear boy! Look at these here lodgings of yourn, fit for a lord! A lord? Ah! You shall show money with lords for wagers, and beat ’em!”

( Great Expectations by Charles Dickens)

The revelation that the convict Magwitch is Pip’s benefactor is a huge example of epiphany for Pip. Pip has assumed for most of his life that Miss Havisham was his benefactor, and this epiphany changes everything for him. Pip must reassess his understanding of his own standing as a gentleman and reconsider his relationship with Magwitch, who is dramatically changed in his eyes to be a noble and loyal man, regardless of his criminal past.

His soul had approached that region where dwell the vast hosts of the dead. He was conscious of, but could not apprehend, their wayward and flickering existence. His own identity was fading out into a grey impalpable world: the solid world itself, which these dead had one time reared and lived in, was dissolving and dwindling.

(“The Dead” by James Joyce)

There are many examples of epiphany in the works of James Joyce. In fact, epiphany had such importance to him that he created his own definition of epiphany in his work, Stephen Hero . Joyce writes that epiphany is, “a sudden spiritual manifestation, whether in the vulgarity of speech or of gesture or in a memorable phase of the mind itself.” Epiphany is even more significant in his story “The Dead” from his collection Dubliners , as the setting is on the Feast of the Epiphany. The main character in “The Dead” Gabriel Conroy attends a birthday party on this day that symbolizes the dullness of Conroy’s life. After he returns home he has an epiphany about the inevitability of death that ultimately changes his outlook on life.

Test Your Knowledge of Epiphany

1. Choose the correct epiphany definition from the following statements: A. A strictly religious concept, relating only to the revelation of faith or divinity. B. A concept used only in science to describe the way that people make discoveries. C. The experience of a striking realization which offers a new perspective.

2. Consider the following conversation between Pip and Magwitch in Charles Dickens’s Great Expectations (Pip is the only one who speaks):

“Dear Magwitch, I must tell you, now at last. You understand what I say?” A gentle pressure on my hand. “You had a child once, whom you loved and lost.” A stronger pressure on my hand. “She lived and found powerful friends. She is living now. She is a lady and very beautiful. And I love her!”

Who has the epiphany and the subsequent change in worldview due to this conversation? A. Pip B. Magwitch C. No one

3. Which of the following scenes in William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet contains an epiphany example? A. Romeo and Juliet meet at the Capulet ball B. Romeo and Juliet decide to marry, against the wishes of their families C. Juliet realizes that Romeo has killed himself, and decides to take her own life

What is Epiphany? Definition, Examples of Literary Epiphany

Home » The Writer’s Dictionary » What is Epiphany? Definition, Examples of Literary Epiphany

Definition of epiphany: An epiphany in literary criticism refers to a character’s sudden realization.

What is an Epiphany?

An epiphany is when a character gains insight to the deeper meaning of something. That something could be an object, a situation, a moment, or other things that at the surface level mean one thing but when examined closer hold a more symbolic meaning.

Epiphany Examples

A woman has unhealthy eating habits and is fairly overweight. Fast food has become the routine meal for her family including the small children. At her son’s yearly check-up, the doctors notes that he is at an unhealthy weight and at risk for childhood diabetes. It is this moment that that woman realizes she must make a change in order to preserve her children’s health.

In this everyday situation, the woman has an epiphany. The insight she gains is that her lifestyle is affecting her child in a way that could be dangerous to his health.

Modern Examples of Epiphany

Here are some epiphany examples in real life:

A man who has been working long hours at a corporate job has missed another one of his daughter’s volleyball games. When he gets home late at night, his daughter tells him that this was the game where she was recognized for earning a scholarship. The father has an epiphany that work shouldn’t come before family and makes every game for the rest of the year.

At an AA meeting, a mother shares her experience with alcoholism and how she lost her children to the foster care system due to her addiction. Another woman in the support group has an epiphany during this speech and realizes that she doesn’t want to lose her family to this disease and is dedicated to her recovery.

The Function of Epiphany

The purpose of epiphanies in literature is to show a character’s growth. When an author includes the epiphany a character experiences, it shows that the character has learned something through his/her experience during the book. Often these epiphanies lead to the character becoming a better person because of this insight.

Examples of Epiphany in Literature

Here are some examples of epiphanies used in literature:

In Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol , the main character, Scrooge, experiences an epiphany. Scrooge begins the novel as a pessimistic, harsh man who has no sympathy for other people. On Christmas Eve, he is led through the past, present, and future by three ghosts who show him the effects his attitude has on people he loves. As a result of this journey, Scrooge has an epiphany that he no longer wants to live life in this manner and changes his outlook.

In this example, the sudden realization the character had was simply to treat others with kindness and gratitude.

In William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet , the Capulets and Montagues have held onto an ancient grudge. This feud between the families has led to countless deaths of family members as well as other citizens of Verona. However, it is not until the suicides of the families’ only children, Romeo and Juliet, that the feud is resolved.

After the deaths of their children who felt their parents wouldn’t support their marriage, the families had an epiphany that this feud was not worth losing more lives.

Define epiphany: An epiphany is the sudden awareness or realization that a character gains through an experience. Many times, the character’s epiphany leads to a positive growth in the character’s life.

Final example of epiphany:

• In Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 , the protagonist, Guy Montag, has lived his life going through the motions. As a firefighter in this post-apocalyptic society, he has mindlessly burned books without questioning. This continues until he has an epiphany that books are not the enemy. This sudden realization leads him to a dangerous quest for knowledge in a society that destroys it and those who seek it.

What is Epiphany?

Derived  from the Greek epiphaneia, meaning “manifestation” or “appearance,” an Epiphany is a moment of sudden and great realization. It is a moment when something that was unclear or confusing suddenly becomes clear. Epiphanies may be spiritual, intellectual, emotional, or physical. They can be life-changing or simply a moment of clarity.

How to pronounce Epiphany ?

When do writers use epiphany .

Writers use Epiphany when they want to convey an important  moment of sudden realization or insight that changes a character’s perspective, the, “Aw-haw!” moment. Epiphany is often used to depict a character’s growth or development. In some cases, it may be used as the climax of a story, pushing the character into action and bringing the story to a satisfying conclusion.

How to use Epiphany?

• Begin by describing  a moment in a character’s life. For example, the person finds themselves in a life-threatening situation where s/he/they suddenly find themselves confronted with their own mortality.
• Describe the scenario and the character as s/he/they come to terms with their current situation.
•  Describe the moments your character realizes that s/he/they may die in their situation. When suddenly, almost out of the blue, that character realizes s/he/ they have walked away from the love of their life because at that time in their lives, s/he/they had been too paralyzed by the fear of commitment to move forward. This great moment of realization is the character’s moment of epiphany. 

Types of Epiphany

• Spiritual Epiphany: Also known as a Joycean Epiphany, is a moment of sudden spiritual manifestation which offers insight into the divine or spiritual realm. A spiritual epiphany is a moment of great understanding and connection with something greater than that of a character’s self.
• Intellectual Epiphany: These occur in moments of religious or scientific breakthrough, the moment a difficult concept is suddenly understood, or the moment of clarity that occurs when the solution to a problem is found. One of the most famous examples of an intellectual epiphany was Isaac Newton’s discovery that the force that made an apple fall and kept the moon in place were the same. This realization resulted in Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation.
• Emotional Epiphany:  An emotional epiphany is a moment of self-realization which usually occurs after an intense emotional experience which leads to totally new attitudes and perceptions. These moments offer clarity to turbulent emotions and offer insight and understanding into a character’s feelings and emotions.The resulting change is often abrupt and unexpected.

Examples of Epiphany in Literature 📚

• Holden Caulfield in The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger: After a series of misadventures, Holden has an epiphany which leads to the sudden realizations that he needs to grow up and take responsibility for his life.
• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee: The moment of epiphany comes when Tom Robinson stands and displays his left arm. At this point in the novel, the reader realizes that Bob Ewell is the one who strangled and killed Mayella.
• The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne: After being publicly shamed, Hester Prynne realizes that her sins are not entirely her own – they are, in part, the result of others’ sins.

Examples of Epiphany in Children Books 🧸

•  In The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis: At the story reaches its climax, the children discover that Aslan, the lion, is the true king of Narnia and that he has come to save them from the White Witch. This is a powerful moment of realization for the children, as they now know they have been part of a much larger story than previously imagined.
•  In Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White: Wilbur has his moment of epiphany when he realizes that Charlotte has been protecting him from the farmer’s ax. The realization leads him to develop a newfound appreciation and respect for Charlotte’s friendship  and her selfless act of love.
• The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry: For the Little Prince , his epiphanic moment occurs when he realizes the most important things in life are not material possessions, but rather the relationships we have with others.

Examples of Epiphany in Songs 🎧

• “Lose Yourself” by Eminem: The song expresses Eminem’s realization that he has been given an opportunity to better himself, is ready to forge his path forward, and that he can be successful if he throws himself into his music.
• “The Scientist” by Coldplay: Inspired by Chris Martin’s failed relationships, this song is a reflection of his realization that he has been neglectful and that his relationship failures are largely his fault.
• “Don’t Stop Believin” by Journey: Inspired by a conversation between Jon Cain and his father at a point in Cain’s life when he thought about quitting music. This song resulted from the realization that people believed in him and if he continued to believe in himself, he could be successful in his music career. 

Examples of Epiphany in Poetry ✍🏽

• William Wordsworth’s “Daffodils”: In this poem, the epiphany is the poem itself when at the end, the reader realizes that minds are nourished and repaired by taking part in what appear to be trivial things.
• Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken”: In this poem, Frost reflects on the choices he has made in life and comes to the realization that while he may not have chosen the easiest path,  he did choose the right path for him and has no regrets.
• Walt Whitman’s “Song of Myself”: Much like other poems, the poem is a reflection of the author’s own amazing realization. In “Song of Myself,” Whitman is explaining his epiphany to the reader . He has come to realize that he is but a small speck in a larger existence but he is grateful for what he has. He has come to understand that you can never go back; you can only move forward. and be greeted by death by the blessing of death at the end.

Examples of Epiphany in Movies 🎥

In film, a moment of epiphany is when a character has an intense, often emotional, moment of realization where everything suddenly becomes clear and easily understood. Suddenly, all of the pieces fall into place. Soul (2020)

Other examples of epiphany in film include:

• The Shawshank Redemption (1994): The moment Andy Dufresne realizes he can escape prison by crawling through a sewage pipe.
•   The Sixth Sense (1999): The moment Malcolm Crowe’s sleeping wife drops his wedding band on the floor and he realizes that he has actually been dead the entire time he’s been working with Cole..

Epiphany in TV and Pop Culture 🎥

Angel (2001)

Angel : Well, I guess I kinda worked it out. If there’s no great glorious end to all this, if nothing we do matters… , then all that matters is what we do. ‘Cause that’s all there is. What we do. Now. Today. I fought for so long, for redemption, for a reward, and finally just to beat the other guy, but I never got it. Kate Lockley : And now you do? Angel : Not all of it. All I wanna do is help. I wanna help because I don’t think people should suffer as they do. Because, if there’s no bigger meaning, then the smallest act of kindness is the greatest thing in the world. Kate Lockley : Yikes. It sounds like you’ve had an epiphany. Angel : I keep saying that, but nobody’s listening.

Examples of Epiphany in Advertising 📺

• Apple’s “Think Different” Campaign: Apple’s iconic “Think Different” campaign was a powerful Epiphany moment for the company. The campaign was designed to inspire people to think differently and challenge the status quo. It was a powerful message that resonated with people and helped to propel Apple to the top of the tech industry.
•  Nike’s “Just Do It” Campaign: Nike’s “Just Do It” campaign was a powerful Epiphany moment for the company. The campaign was designed to inspire people to take action and push themselves to their limits. It was a powerful message that resonated with people and helped to propel Nike to the top of the sports industry.
• McDonald’s “I’m Lovin’ It” Campaign: McDonald’s “I’m Lovin’ It” campaign was a powerful Epiphany moment for the company. The campaign was designed to inspire people to enjoy life and have fun. It was a powerful message that resonated with people and helped to propel McDonald’s to the top of the fast food industry.

Common FAQs

What is Epiphany ? A sudden, often life-altering realization about the character’s self, those around her/him/them that leads to a sudden and uncharacteristic change in thought or actions. A sudden, often life-altering realization about the character’s self, those around her/him/them that leads to a sudden and uncharacteristic change in thought or actions.  What are the features of Epiphany? The key features of an epiphany in literature are: a sudden, usually life-changing, realization, and a desire to or an uncharacteristic and noticeable change in belief, perception, or actions

Other related literary devices

•   Flashback : A flashback is a literary device used to show a character’s past experiences or memories that are relevant to the present situation. It is often used to provide insight into a character’s motivations or to explain why they are making certain decisions.
• Foreshadowing : Foreshadowing is a literary device used to hint at future events or plot points. It is often used to create suspense or to give the reader a sense of what is to come.
•   Symbolism : Symbolism is a literary device used to represent abstract ideas or concepts through the use of symbols. It is often used to convey a deeper meaning or to provide insight into a character’s thoughts and feelings.

What is an epiphany in literature?

An epiphany is a moment in which a character experiences a sudden insight or realization that changes their understanding of themselves, others, or the world around them. This moment of clarity often leads to a pivotal point in the story, affecting the character’s actions and decisions moving forward.

How does an epiphany contribute to a narrative?

An epiphany contributes to a narrative by providing a turning point in the story or in a character’s development. It deepens the reader’s understanding of the character’s journey, highlighting moments of personal growth, revelation, or transformation that are crucial to the plot’s progression and thematic depth.

Can an epiphany be experienced by the reader as well as the character?

Yes, an epiphany can be experienced by both the character and the reader . While characters have epiphanies that affect their path within the story, readers may also experience their own moments of insight, where they suddenly understand a deeper truth about the story, a character, or even a reflection on their own lives.

Why do authors use epiphanies in their writing?

Authors use epiphanies to create emotional resonance and to mark significant points of character development or plot twists. These moments are used to reveal hidden truths, resolve conflicts, or propel the story towards its climax, enriching the narrative with deeper meaning and complexity.

How can I identify an epiphany in a literary work?

To identify an epiphany in a literary work, look for a scene where a character suddenly changes their perspective or understanding in a way that profoundly affects their course of action. This moment is often highlighted by the character’s internal monologue or a significant change in their behavior, marking a clear before-and-after point in their development.

Epiphany Definition

Derived from the Greek word epiphaneia , epiphany means “appearance,” or “manifestation.” In literary terms, an epiphany is that moment in the story where a character achieves realization, awareness, or a feeling of knowledge, after which events are seen through the prism of this new light in the story.

James Joyce, the great Irish writer, used this term in his writings to indicate a sudden eye-opener regarding the nature of a person or situation. He said that it is the moment in which “the soul of the commonest object … seems to us radiant, and may be manifested through any chance, word, or gesture.” He means to say that even insignificant things in our lives can suddenly inspire in us an awareness that can change our lives for good.

A Common Example of Epiphany

Let us consider an epiphany of a smoker:

I used to smoke a lot. Everyone let me know that it was bad for my health however, I didn’t pay any notice. One day I saw my two-year-old baby trying to grab a stubbed-out cigarette from the ashtray. Seeing this, it suddenly dawned on me how terrible smoking was, and I stopped smoking.

So, this sudden feeling of knowledge that brings to light what was so far hidden, and changes one’s life, is called epiphany.

Examples of Epiphany in Literature

Let us analyze some epiphany examples from different genres of literature.

Example #1: Animal Farm (By George Orwell)

Animal Farm , written by George Orwell, is an epiphany that uses animals on a farm to describe the overthrow of the last Russian Tsar, Nicholas II, and the Communist Revolution of Russia before WWI. The actions of the animals on the farm are used to expose the greed and corruption of the revolution. It also describes how powerful people can change the ideology of a society. One of the cardinal rules on the farm is this:

All animals are equal but a few are more equal than others.

The animals on the farm represent different sections of Russian society after the revolution.

For instance, the pigs represent those who came to power following the revolution; “Mr. Jones,” the owner of the farm, represents the overthrown Tsar Nicholas II; while “Boxer” the horse, represents the laborer class. The use of Epiphany in the novel allows Orwell to make his position clear about the Russian Revolution and expose its evils.

Example #2: Hamlet (By William Shakespeare)

William Shakespeare also makes use of an epiphany in his play Hamlet . It is when Hamlet, the hero , is on a ship sailing to England. Till then, he was over-burdened with thinking and planning a flawless revenge on his father’s murderer, Claudius. Suddenly there is a flash of realization and he says:

[T]here is a divinity that shapes our ends, rough-hew them how we will.

He realizes that there is no wisdom for him in trying to inflict the perfect revenge on Claudius – he must take hold of the moment and go with the current.

Example #3: Miss Brill (By Katherine Manfield)

We find another example of epiphany in the short story Miss Brill , written by Katherine Manfield. Miss Brill, being delighted to be part of the season in the Jardins Publique, particularly on Sundays, prepares herself for the occasion on a chilly day. She wears her fur coat, and walks towards a band playing music in the park. She sees life everywhere around her. It pleases her to imagine that she is part of all that takes place. In a flash of epiphany, she recognizes that she and everyone else in the park are mere actors, acting out their roles. There was nothing important about that gathering of actors and she was alone despite being with a crowd.

Function of Epiphany

The purpose of epiphany in a novel or a short story is to point out a turning point for a character , or in the plot , in the near future. It may also be used to change the opinion of one character about other characters, events, and places after a sudden awareness of the situation. It may also be a sign of a conclusion in the story.

Epiphany Definition Derived from the Greek phrase epiphaneia, epiphany means “appearance,” or “manifestation.” In literary terms, an epiphany is that moment in the story in which a man or woman achieves consciousness, awareness, or a feeling of information, after which occasions are seen through the prism of this new mild inside the story. James Joyce, the tremendous Irish writer, used this time period in his writings to suggest a unexpected eye-opener regarding the nature of a person or situation. He said that it's miles the moment in which “the soul of the commonest object … seems to us radiant, and can be manifested through any chance, phrase, or gesture.” He means to say that even insignificant things in our lives can all at once encourage in us an awareness that can alternate our lives for good. A Common Example of Epiphany Let us remember an epiphany of a smoker: I used to smoke a lot. Everyone permit me know that it was awful for my health however, I didn’t pay any notice. One day I saw my two-year-old baby trying to take hold of a stubbed-out cigarette from the ashtray. Seeing this, it unexpectedly dawned on me how horrible smoking become, and I stopped smoking. So, this surprising feeling of understanding that brings to mild what was up to now hidden, and modifications one’s life, is called epiphany. Examples of Epiphany in Literature Let us examine a few epiphany examples from unique genres of literature. Example #1: Animal Farm (By George Orwell) Animal Farm, written by George Orwell, is an epiphany that makes use of animals on a farm to describe the overthrow of the ultimate Russian Tsar, Nicholas II, and the Communist Revolution of Russia before WWI. The actions of the animals on the farm are used to expose the greed and corruption of the revolution. It also describes how powerful people can change the ideology of a society. One of the cardinal rules at the farm is this: All animals are equal but a few are more equal than others. The animals on the farm represent one-of-a-kind sections of Russian society after the revolution. For instance, the pigs represent people who came to energy following the revolution; “Mr. Jones,” the proprietor of the farm, represents the overthrown Tsar Nicholas II; while “Boxer” the horse, represents the laborer class. The use of Epiphany within the novel allows Orwell to make his position clean about the Russian Revolution and divulge its evils. Example #2: Hamlet (By William Shakespeare) William Shakespeare additionally uses an epiphany in his play Hamlet. It is whilst Hamlet, the hero, is on a ship sailing to England. Till then, he turned into over-burdened with questioning and planning a perfect revenge on his father’s murderer, Claudius. Suddenly there is a flash of cognizance and he says: [T]here is a divinity that shapes our ends, rough-hew them how we will. He realizes that there is no know-how for him in trying to inflict the best revenge on Claudius – he must take hold of the moment and go along with the current. Example #3: Miss Brill (By Katherine Manfield) We find another example of epiphany in the quick story Miss Brill, written by using Katherine Manfield. Miss Brill, being delighted to be part of the season in the Jardins Publique, especially on Sundays, prepares herself for the occasion on a chilly day. She wears her fur coat, and walks towards a band gambling music within the park. She sees life everywhere around her. It pleases her to assume that she is part of all that takes place. In a flash of epiphany, she recognizes that she and every person else in the park are mere actors, acting out their roles. There become nothing important about that accumulating of actors and she or he was alone notwithstanding being with a crowd. Function of Epiphany The purpose of epiphany in a unique or a quick story is to factor out a turning point for a person, or inside the plot, within the near future. It can also be used to exchange the opinion of one person approximately different characters, events, and locations after a unexpected awareness of the situation. It will also be a sign of a conclusion inside the tale.

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What is Epiphany? Examples in Literature

What is epiphany.

Epiphany is a sudden understanding or realization of something significant, that was previously obscure or unknown to them. This discovery might be about a life fact, a greater comprehension of a situation, or a personal component. It’s as if a light bulb goes out in your thoughts, revealing a fresh viewpoint or understanding.

Epiphanies sometimes occur suddenly and might be precipitated by an event, a discussion or a simple observation. They play an important role in literature, when characters have these epiphanies that shift their thinking or path in life.

Functions of Epiphany

An epiphany serves several functions in literature:

Revelation – It reveals an essential truth, either about life or a particular situation, that was previously veiled or misunderstood. Through a sudden insight or experience, deeper meaning is uncovered in a illuminating instant.

Transformation – The realization profoundly transforms the protagonist by altering their self-perception, shifting perspectives on relationships/events, or igniting a significant change in beliefs, motives or actions. It sparks dynamic personal growth.

Thematic Significance – An epiphany crystallizes and communicates pivotal themes, messages, or ideas the author wants to convey regarding life, human nature society. It provides vivid insight into the human condition.

Plot Development – Structurally, epiphanies act as a turning point, dramatically changing the protagonist’s path and driving the plot in a new direction. It signals a key story arc transition.

Reader Engagement – By aligning readers with the protagonist’s aha moment, epiphanies allow audiences to arrive at revelations as well. The shared clarity emotionally binds readers to characters and themes.

Epiphany Examples in literature

“portrait of the artist as a young man” by james joyce.

“Heavenly God! cried Stephen’s soul, in an outburst of profane joy….Her image had passed into his soul for ever and no word had broken the holy silence of his ecstasy. Her eyes had called him and his soul had leaped at the call. To live, to err, to fall, to triumph, to recreate life out of life!”

Here, the protagonist Stephen’s moment of epiphany is when, he sees a girl wading in a stream. He is spiritually moved by the beauty of this sensual vision, which sparks an awakening of his artistic consciousness. The passage conveys an intensity of profound revelation, as Stephen’s “soul” cries out in “profane joy” at the sight of the girl. The language suggests a nearly religious ecstasy – her image has passed into Stephen’s soul “forever” and the scene is described with sacred overtones like “holy silence” and “ecstasy.” This highlights how deeply stirring and revelatory the moment is for Stephen.

The girl’s eyes call to Stephen, and his soul instinctively “leaps” in response – indicating a visceral, spiritual pull toward her beauty and grace. This vision stirs Stephen’s artistic impulse to not only notice beauty, but to distill meaning from life’s varied experiences – from living, erring, falling, triumphing. The quote captures Stephen recognizing his artistic purpose is to recreate and transform “life out of life.”

“The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison

“I did not wish for anything that day, except for Pecola to stop hurting…Why didn’t I feel what I was supposed to feel for the one who had taken my friend’s milk? Why didn’t I want to bash his head in?”

The aforesaid excerpt depicts a significant epiphany or awakening for the young character Claudia. She reflects on her own reaction after committing rape and impregnated of her friend Pecola by her father. She realizes that although she wished for Pecola’s suffering to stop, but did not feel hatred or vengeance toward’s Pecola’s rapist.

This moment marks Claudia’s revelation that she failed to fully support or empathize with her friend Pecola in her moment of crisis. By focusing her emotions solely on Pecola rather than condemning the rapist, Claudia recognizes her own fault in implicitly allowing community complicity in Pecola’s trauma. She awakens to the injustice of Pecola’s black female body not being cherished or protected in society.

The quote captures Claudia’s sudden epiphany about her community’s racial and gender dynamics that permit such violence against black girls and women like Pecola. This plants the seeds for Claudia’s growing social awareness and commitment to Pecola’s humanity – representing a turning point in her moral and ethical development. The moment sparks her personal growth through harsh realization.

“Emma” by Jane Austen

Knightley after Harriet confesses her belief that Mr. Knightley is in love with her:

“She was proved to have been universally mistaken; and she had not quite done nothing—for she had done mischief. She had brought evil on Harriet, on herself, and she too much feared, on Mr. Knightley.”

The excerpt shows epiphany about the consequences of misguided matchmaking schemes of the protagonist Emma. After coming into knowledge that her friend Harriet has fallen for Mr. Knightley, Emma suddenly realizes the ‘mischief’, which her meddling has caused.

The passage conveys Emma’s internal shift in perspective – she comprehends that her judgment has been “universally mistaken” and that her interference has brought “evil” rather than good. Her misplaced confidence in understanding others’ romantic intentions has created chaos rather than order.

This epiphanic moment marks Emma’s dawning understanding of her own foolishness and the harm she has inadvertently caused those close to her heart. She awakens to the reality that her manipulations have threatened Mr. Knightley and Harriet’s welfare rather than aided it. Along with this reality check comes Emma’s first glimpses of self-accountability and maturity in her romantic outlook.

The quote captures the humbling yet formative instant where Emma finally sees the consequences of her matchmaking mania. This propels essential growth in her character as she releases her fanciful notions of steering others’ destinies and gains wisdom about real human emotions.

“Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Bronte

“My world had for some years been in Lowood: my experience had been of its rules and systems…now I remembered that the real world was wide, and that a varied field of hopes and fears, of sensations and excitements, awaited those who had courage to go forth into its expanse, to seek real knowledge of life amidst its perils.”

This quote from Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre captures the protagonist Jane having an introspective epiphany as she reflects on her life while alone on the moors. After leaving Thornfield Hall and Rochester, Jane contemplates her limited worldview having been confined thus far within the strict walls of Lowood.

The passage conveys Jane’s sudden realization that beyond her narrow existence lies “the real world” in all its width and variation. With this comes an awakening of her yearning to discover broader “hopes,” “fears,” “sensations” that await beyond her small corner of experience.

Jane grasps there is “real knowledge of life” to gained out in the expanse of both possibility and “perils.” It shows that Jane is realizing to grow that she needs to be brave and step out of her comfort zone to explore new places and experiences.

Middlemarch by George Eliot

“Her mind was theoretic, and yearned by its nature after some lofty conception of the world which might frankly include the parish of Tipton and her own rule of conduct there; she was enamoured of intensity and greatness, and rash in embracing whatever seemed to her to have those aspects.”

It is an important realization for the character ‘Dorothea Brooke’. She being an idealistic young woman had developed lofty notions of how she would contribute meaningfully to her small parish community. However, in this moment Dorothea gains clarity about the flawed and unrealistic nature of her over-zealous ambitions.

The passage conveys how Dorothea’s mind “yearned after some lofty conception of the world” in all its theoretical grandeur, rather than confronting concrete practicalities. Her high-minded aspirations made her “rash in embracing whatever seemed” intense and great, without reasonable discernment.

But her epiphany centers on recognizing that in her “enamour” of vague ambition, she overlooked understanding real human lives in her actual surroundings in Tipton parish. Her awakening reveals her immaturity in assuming she could tackle parish problems with over-simplified theoretical solutions.

The quote captures Dorothea’s sudden understanding of how her naïve passion for “intensity and “greatness” blinded her judgment of everyday complex truths. This realization marks the beginning of her gaining wisdom about pragmatic action versus idealistic imagining – propelling essential personal growth.

“Invisible Man” by Ralph Ellison

In Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man, the narrator experiences an epiphany during the Harlem Riots when he realizes the complexity of race relations and power dynamics that fuel societal tensions:

“Where were the historians today? And how would they put it down…Were we fools and victims of our own mad notions of racial division…Or were we tormented? What did the mob want, what actually was it demanding when it called for ‘social equality’?”

The narrator is undergoing an epiphany as he witnesses a riot unfolding in Harlem. As racial tensions explode into violence on the streets, the narrator questions himself about the deeper root causes fueling the chaos.

The passage conveys the narrator’s sudden confrontation with his own lack of understanding regarding the complex social and psychological forces at play. His questioning spotlights societal issues that historians have failed to capture or acknowledge.

In this instant, the narrator grasps the insufficiency of simplistic explanations for the riots that would dismiss the rioters as just “fools.” Instead, he awakens to layered truths – both the reality of ingrained “notions of racial division” but also the legitimate outcries for “equality” from the oppressed.

The quote captures the narrator’s startling realization that he must develop a more nuanced, thoughtful analysis of events rather than rely on conventional assumptions. This epiphany plants seeds for his increased social awareness and personal accountability in facing hard truths.

Related Terms

Moment of insight.

Epiphany is a literary term, which is often described as a sudden moment of insight or realization by a character. It is a revelation that gives the character clarity about themselves or the world. An epiphany can reveal new truths or information to a character that shifts their perspective.

Turning point

Epiphanies are often turning points or pivotal moments for characters, where they come to an important understanding that changes their perspective going forward. An epiphany marks a transition in a character’s journey or arc, signaling growth, change or transformation after gaining profound realization about themselves, others, or the world they inhabit.

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What is Epiphany Definition And Examples

Table of Contents

Epiphany is a literary term that refers to a moment of sudden realization, insight, or revelation experienced by a character in a work of literature. Derived from the Greek word “epiphaneia,” meaning manifestation or appearance, epiphany involves a significant and often transformative understanding or awareness that leads to a change in perspective, behavior, or understanding of oneself or the world.

Epiphany plays a crucial role in various literary genres, including novels, short stories, plays, and poetry. What is Epiphany Definition And Examples It allows authors to delve into the depths of human consciousness, exploring the complexities of characters’ inner lives and the intricacies of their emotional and intellectual journeys. What is Epiphany Definition And Examples Through the use of epiphany, writers provide readers with profound insights into the human condition and offer moments of enlightenment and clarity.

• What is Diction Definition And Examples
• What is Denotation Definition And Examples
• What is Connotation Definition And Examples

In literature, epiphany can take many forms. It may occur as a sudden realization about one’s identity, purpose, or place in the world. What is Epiphany Definition And Examples Alternatively, it can involve the recognition of a fundamental truth, the understanding of a moral lesson, or the resolution of a conflict. What is Epiphany Definition And Examples Epiphanies can be personal and intimate, impacting an individual character’s growth and development, or they can extend to larger societal or philosophical revelations that transcend the boundaries of the narrative.

James Joyce, one of the most influential modernist writers, extensively employed the concept of epiphany in his works. In his collection of short stories titled “Dubliners,” Joyce masterfully captures moments of epiphany experienced by ordinary individuals living in Dublin at the turn of the 20th century. What is Epiphany Definition And Examples For instance, in the story “Araby,” the young protagonist undergoes a profound realization about the nature of love and disillusionment while attending a bazaar. This epiphany marks a pivotal moment in the character’s coming-of-age journey and represents a loss of innocence.

Another notable example of epiphany in literature can be found in Fyodor Dostoevsky’s novel “Crime and Punishment.” The protagonist, Raskolnikov, experiences a series of epiphanies throughout the narrative, culminating in his ultimate recognition of the moral consequences of his actions. What is Epiphany Definition And Examples Through these moments of revelation, Dostoevsky explores themes of guilt, redemption, and the human capacity for change.

Epiphany is not limited to prose fiction but also appears in poetry. What is Epiphany Definition And Examples In T.S. Eliot’s renowned poem “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,” the titular character has a series of epiphanic moments that reveal his fears, insecurities, and anxieties. What is Epiphany Definition And Examples These realizations contribute to the overall theme of existential crisis and self-doubt present in the poem.

The use of epiphany in literature serves multiple purposes. What is Epiphany Definition And Examples It allows authors to deepen their characters, providing them with internal struggles, growth, and self-awareness. What is Epiphany Definition And Examples Epiphanies can also serve as turning points within a narrative, propelling the plot forward or causing a shift in the story’s direction. What is Epiphany Definition And Examples Moreover, epiphanies enable readers to empathize with characters, as they too can experience a sense of recognition or enlightenment through the characters’ revelations.

To effectively convey an epiphany, writers employ various literary techniques. What is Epiphany Definition And Examples These may include the use of vivid and evocative imagery, powerful symbolism, metaphorical language, stream-of-consciousness narrative, and juxtaposition of contrasting elements. What is Epiphany Definition And Examples By employing these techniques, writers create an immersive and impactful reading experience that allows readers to share in the characters’ moments of revelation.

Examples Of Epiphany

• “To the Lighthouse” by Virginia Woolf: In this novel, the character of Lily Briscoe experiences an epiphany while painting a picture. She suddenly understands the true essence of life and art, realizing that the purpose lies not in capturing the perfect image but in the process of creation itself.
• “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger: The protagonist, Holden Caulfield, has a series of epiphanies throughout the novel, but one of the most significant occurs when he watches his sister Phoebe riding a carousel. What is Epiphany Definition And Examples He realizes that he cannot protect her from the difficulties of growing up and acknowledges the importance of embracing the complexities and challenges of life.
• “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare: Lady Macbeth experiences an epiphany after the murder of King Duncan. What is Epiphany Definition And Examples Initially driven by ambition and a desire for power, she eventually realizes the psychological and emotional toll of her actions, leading to her descent into madness.
• “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald: The character of Jay Gatsby has a profound epiphany when he finally understands that his obsession with wealth and status cannot bring him happiness or win back his lost love, Daisy. What is Epiphany Definition And Examples This realization marks a turning point in his character arc and contributes to the tragic nature of the story.
• “The Awakening” by Kate Chopin: The protagonist, Edna Pontellier, experiences an epiphany during a swim in the ocean. As she floats in the water, she realizes the limitations and expectations placed upon women in society and the oppressive nature of her own existence. What is Epiphany Definition And Examples This moment leads to her pursuit of personal freedom and self-discovery.

Epiphany, as a literary term, plays a significant role in literature by providing moments of sudden realization, insight, or revelation for characters. What is Epiphany Definition And Examples It allows authors to delve into the depths of human consciousness and explore the complexities of characters’ inner lives. What is Epiphany Definition And Examples Through the use of epiphany, writers offer readers profound insights into the human condition, personal growth, and transformation. What is Epiphany Definition And Examples Epiphanies can be pivotal moments in a narrative, leading to changes in perspective, behavior, or understanding. What is Epiphany Definition And Examples They contribute to character development, plot progression, and the exploration of themes and messages within a work of literature. What is Epiphany Definition And Examples Employing various literary techniques, writers create immersive experiences that enable readers to share in the characters’ moments of revelation.

Q. Can epiphany only occur in literature?

Ans. Epiphany is commonly associated with literature but can also occur in other forms of art and in real-life experiences. In literature, however, epiphany is a technique specifically used by authors to provide moments of revelation for their characters and readers.

Q. Is epiphany limited to a specific genre?

Ans. Epiphany can be found in various literary genres, including novels, short stories, plays, and poetry. It is not limited to a particular genre but can be utilized in any form of literature to deepen characterization and explore themes.

Q. Are epiphanies always positive or enlightening?

Ans. Epiphanies can have different effects on characters and may not always be positive or enlightening. They can bring about feelings of confusion, despair, or regret, depending on the circumstances and the character’s perception of the revelation.

Q. Are epiphanies limited to main characters?

Ans. While epiphanies often occur within the journeys of main characters, they can also involve secondary characters or even groups of people. Epiphanies can be individual or collective, impacting the development and dynamics of multiple characters.

Q. Can epiphany occur multiple times within a single work?

Ans. Yes, epiphany can occur multiple times within a single work. Characters may experience various moments of realization, each contributing to their growth or understanding of the narrative’s themes. These multiple epiphanies can build upon each other or provide contrasting perspectives.

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Practical Guide: 10 Tips to Teach Epiphany in Literature

Define epiphany in literature, highlight examples of epiphany from known works, teach how to identify an epiphany, discuss the purpose of epiphanies in storytelling, illustrate the impact of epiphanies on characters, compare epiphanies across different genres, explore the role of epiphanies in plot development, practice creating epiphanies in class writing exercises, analyze the effect of epiphanies on readers, summarize the value of teaching epiphany in literature.

Ever tried to teach epiphany in literature and found it a bit challenging? You're not alone. Many find it a tricky concept to convey, especially because it's so personal and subjective. But don't worry; with the right approach, you can make this literary device as clear as a sunny day. In this practical guide, we'll walk through 10 tips that will help you teach epiphany in literature effectively.

First things first—you can't teach what you can't define. So, what exactly is an epiphany in literature? It's a moment in a story when a character has a significant realization or understanding. This "aha" moment can be big or small, but it always leads to some personal development for the character or a shift in the plot. Let's break it down further:

• Character's Realization: An epiphany is a moment of sudden understanding or insight for a character. It's like a light bulb switching on in their mind. For example, in "The Wizard of Oz," Dorothy has an epiphany when she realizes she had the power to return home all along.
• Significance: Not every realization a character has can be called an epiphany. It must be significant, often leading to a change in their perspective or behavior. Think of Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol"—his epiphany leads to a complete turnaround in his character.
• Plot Shift: Often, a character's epiphany can trigger a shift in the story's direction. In "To Kill a Mockingbird," Scout's epiphany about Boo Radley changes the entire tone of the story and leads to its resolution.

Understanding these aspects can help you teach epiphany in literature more effectively. But remember, an epiphany is not just about the "what"—it's about the "why" and the "how" too. So, as you define it, also think about why epiphanies are important in literature and how they impact characters and stories.

Now that we've defined what an epiphany is, let's look at a few examples from popular works. By doing so, you'll be able to illustrate what you mean when you teach epiphany in literature.

• Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice": When Elizabeth Bennett reads Mr. Darcy's letter explaining his actions, she has an epiphany about her own prejudice. This realization changes her feelings towards him and dramatically shifts the plot.
• F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby": Gatsby's epiphany comes when he realizes that his dream of being with Daisy is unattainable. This moment of understanding marks a significant change in his character and the novel's trajectory.
• J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix": Harry has an epiphany when he realizes that his connection with Voldemort can be a strength instead of a weakness. This perception shift plays a vital role in his fight against the dark forces.

Remember, when you teach epiphany in literature, it's essential to bring in examples from a wide range of works. This will not only help your students understand the concept better but also appreciate the diverse ways in which epiphanies can be used in storytelling.

Once your students have understood the concept of epiphany, the next step is to teach them how to identify an epiphany in literature. Here are a few steps to guide them:

• Look for a Change: Epiphanies usually mark a turning point in the story or a character's journey. Encourage your students to look for abrupt changes in a character's behavior or actions, as they often indicate an epiphany.
• Understand the Context: Epiphanies don't happen in a vacuum. They are usually the result of a buildup of events or experiences. So, students should pay close attention to the events leading up to the potential epiphany.
• Observe the Aftermath: The impact of an epiphany is often seen in the events that follow. If a character's action leads to a significant shift in the story, it's likely that an epiphany has occurred.

Remember, the goal is not just to teach students to identify epiphanies, but also to understand their relevance in literature. By learning how to spot an epiphany, they'll be able to appreciate the depth and complexity of the stories they read.

So, what's the big deal about epiphanies? Why do authors use them in their stories? Well, let's dive into that.

First off, epiphanies add a layer of realism to the narrative. Just as we have sudden realizations in our lives, so do characters in literature. These moments of insight reflect the human condition, making characters more relatable to readers.

Secondly, epiphanies serve as a powerful tool for character development . They provide a natural and believable way for characters to evolve, change their beliefs, or shift their perspectives. The transformation that follows an epiphany can reveal new aspects of a character's personality, making them more complex and intriguing.

Lastly, epiphanies can drive the plot forward . They can serve as a catalyst for action, pushing characters to make decisions that set the course for the rest of the story. In this way, an epiphany is more than just a moment of insight—it's a pivotal point that can change the direction of the narrative.

In short, when you teach epiphany in literature, you're not just teaching a literary device. You're teaching a tool that writers use to bring their stories to life.

Let's get a bit more specific and see how epiphanies actually affect characters in literature. To do this, let's take a look at some examples.

Consider Ebenezer Scrooge from Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol". His late-night epiphanies, courtesy of the three spirits, lead to a radical change in his character. This rich miser transforms into a generous soul, all thanks to the power of epiphany.

Similarly, think about Elizabeth Bennet in Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice". Her epiphany about Mr. Darcy's true character changes not only her perception of him but also directs the course of their relationship and, ultimately, the outcome of the story.

Or think about the protagonist in Franz Kafka's "The Metamorphosis". The epiphany that he is no longer human but a gigantic insect leads to a profound change in his behavior and outlook on life.

See the pattern here? An epiphany can flip a character's world upside down, leading to significant changes in their attitudes, actions, and life choices. So when you teach epiphany in literature, you're also teaching students how to track character development and how to understand the inner workings of a character's mind.

Now that we've seen the impact of epiphanies on characters, let's take a step back and compare how epiphanies are used across different genres. This is a fun and enlightening way to teach epiphany in literature, as it helps students appreciate the versatility of this literary device.

In mystery novels, for example, the epiphany often comes in the form of a sudden revelation that solves the central puzzle. Agatha Christie's detective Hercule Poirot is a master of the epiphany, always managing to solve the most complex of mysteries with a sudden flash of insight.

In contrast, in science fiction and fantasy, the epiphany might relate to the nature of the universe or the true potential of the protagonist. Think of Luke Skywalker in "Star Wars" realizing the truth about his father, or Frodo Baggins in "The Lord of the Rings" understanding the weight of his mission.

And let's not forget about romance novels. Here, the epiphany often involves a sudden realization of love or the unveiling of a character's true feelings. Nicholas Sparks's novels are filled with such moments, making readers' hearts flutter.

So, as you can see, while the form of epiphany might change from genre to genre, the core idea remains the same. It's all about a sudden, profound realization that changes the course of the plot or the character's understanding of themselves or others. This can be an exciting concept to explore when you teach epiphany in literature.

Moving from genre to genre has been quite the ride! Now, let's focus on the role of epiphanies in plot development. This is a key point when we teach epiphany in literature, as it helps students understand how stories evolve and progress.

Epiphanies are like the secret sauce in a well-cooked story. They add a twist, turn the tables, and often, lead to the climax of the narrative. Sometimes, they are the turning point that pushes the plot in a new direction. At other times, they help to resolve conflicts and bring the story to a satisfying conclusion.

Consider J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" series. Throughout the story, Harry has multiple epiphanies that not only shape his character but also drive the plot forward. From discovering his magical abilities to realizing the importance of his friends and uncovering the truth about his parents, these epiphanies are integral to the plot development.

Similarly, in "To Kill a Mockingbird," Scout's epiphany about Boo Radley plays a significant role in the resolution of the story. It's her sudden understanding of Boo's character that brings about a change in her perspective and adds depth to the narrative.

In short, epiphanies are not just about character development—they are pivotal to the narrative structure. They allow the plot to evolve in a manner that's intriguing and engaging. So, when we teach epiphany in literature, it's vital to emphasize its role in shaping and advancing the storyline.

Alright, now that we've seen the magic of epiphanies in action, it's time to get your hands dirty, metaphorically speaking, of course. To teach epiphany in literature, it's essential to guide students in creating their own. And what better way to do this than through class writing exercises?

First up, let's try our hand at short stories. Task your students with crafting a narrative that includes a clear epiphany. The prompt could be as simple as a day in the life of a character, or as complex as a mystery to be solved. The key is to ensure that the character experiences a sudden realization or insight that changes their perspective or propels the plot forward.

For instance, a day at the zoo could lead to a character's epiphany about the importance of animal conservation. A mystery story could reveal a character's sudden understanding of a clue that unravels the entire plot. The possibilities are endless!

Next, let's move onto poetry. Yes, you heard that right—epiphanies aren't limited to prose. Think of a haiku or sonnet that ends with a profound realization. This exercise will challenge students to condense an epiphany into a few powerful lines, honing their ability to express complex ideas succinctly.

Creating opportunities for students to practice writing about epiphanies helps cement their understanding of this literary device. Plus, it sharpens their narrative skills, fostering their growth as budding writers. Remember, when we teach epiphany in literature, we're not just teaching a concept—we're nurturing creativity and expression too.

When we teach epiphany in literature, we should not overlook its impact on us, the readers. Ever read a book that made you go "Aha!" or "Oh, I see it now!"? That, my friend, is the power of a well-crafted epiphany.

Epiphanies can serve as turning points not just for the characters, but also for the readers. They invite us to reflect, to question, and to empathize. They can make us re-evaluate our own beliefs and perspectives. In essence, a good epiphany can make us see the world in a new light.

Let's take the classic example of "To Kill a Mockingbird". When Scout Finch finally meets Boo Radley, she experiences an epiphany that transforms her understanding of her mysterious neighbor. This moment isn't just a revelation for Scout—it's also a powerful moment for us, the readers, prompting us to reconsider our own judgments and preconceptions.

So, in your quest to teach epiphany in literature, encourage your students to think about how these moments affect them as readers. Do they feel shocked, relieved, enlightened? What insights do they gain from the character's revelation? And most importantly, how does this change their reading experience?

Understanding the reader's response to epiphanies can deepen their appreciation of literature. After all, the beauty of reading lies in its ability to move us, to challenge us, and to make us see things differently. And that's exactly what a good epiphany does!

So, we've journeyed through the fascinating world of epiphanies in literature. We've explored how to identify them and why they're so important in storytelling. We've seen their impact on characters and readers alike. But the question remains—why should we teach epiphany in literature? What's the real value in it?

Teaching epiphany in literature is like handing your students a key. A key that opens the door to deeper understanding of the story, the characters, and ultimately, themselves. It's more than just a literary device—it's a tool for empathy, self-realization, and critical thinking.

When students learn to identify and appreciate epiphanies, they're learning to engage with the text on a profound level. They're not just reading—they're connecting, reflecting, and growing. They're learning to see the world from different perspectives, to question their beliefs, and to embrace new ideas.

Plus, understanding epiphanies can make reading a lot more fun! It's like a treasure hunt, where each revelation is a precious find. And who doesn't love a good treasure hunt?

In conclusion, teaching epiphany in literature is a valuable exercise that can enrich your students' reading experience and personal growth. It's not just about dissecting a text—it's about understanding the human condition. And that, my friends, is a lesson worth teaching.

If you enjoyed this practical guide on teaching epiphany in literature and are looking for more ways to enhance your storytelling skills, check out Mirelle Ortega's workshop, ' Storytelling In Illustration .' This workshop will help you learn how to incorporate visual elements into your storytelling, making it even more engaging and memorable for your audience.

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My Moment of Epiphany

Being an active and energetic person , I didn’t think that anything in the nearest future could influence me so greatly that I would totally reconsider my whole perception of the world. I was studying at the last course of the university and got married to the person I knew very well and whom I truly loved. I thought I was a happy person. But the next year proved that I was wrong.

When I found out that I was pregnant, I just didn’t know what to do . The world around me just froze and there I was, a future mother. First, I was completely taken aback by the realization of all the responsibility and novelty of feelings. But after a month or so, I got accustomed to the new feeling and started to realize that I will be a mother. Of course, I wasn’t sure how well I would cope, but my husband was always there to set me at ease and explain that he will always help me.

Time passed by, and I was getting more and more happy with the state I was in. My baby started to kick a lot and I always knew that she was feeling well. But at the moment I saw her right after labor I understood that everything that made me happy before was just a preparation for the real happiness.

That feeling of real and complete satisfaction cannot be described – just experienced. Every day of my life I am thankful for the gift I received. My baby means the whole world to me and that’s what makes me feel significant and useful in this world. I understand that I have to make this little person’s life as cloudless as possible and I become even happier and always try to do my best to make her life better.

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An example of an epiphany

Adilene 1 / 3   Nov 14, 2010   #1 hi!! Excuse me I don't understand what is epiphany... I don't know to write as a essay an epiphany in my life... Can someone help me please...??

fairgirl99 1 / 2   Nov 14, 2010   #2 Epiphany is discussion of awareness that changes your life or your view of the surrounding. Here is an example of an epiphany of my English 5 teacher: As a young man, I had the opportunity to join a Buddhist retreat in the wilderness of Death Valley in California. It was rigorous. We got up and began meditating well before dawn in the freezing cold and practiced silent mindfulness throughout the day's blazing heat, as we walked, ate, and worked together. At night we sat in meditation again for a couple of hours beneath the stars, finally going to our tents and crawling into our sleeping bags in the shivery cold again, sometimes with light snowfall dancing in the beams of our flashlights. After many days of practice, my perception started to loosen, to shift from the habitual, and I became susceptible to teaching from the ancient land. The moment came one evening as primitive stone tool found on the desert floor made its round from hand to hand. When it came to me I held it, feeling how it nestled familiarly in my palm, and the hand that had once carefully fashioned it upon the shore of a lake vanished long ago in geological time reached over the centuries to touch me. With a sudden vertigo, I saw the constellations in the sky of my mind wheeling backward, beyond 1492 into the time depths of this continent. Suddenly wrenched free of the European time-line, I understood that my country, the United States of America, which my school textbooks had hammered into me was the most significant thing to ever happen to the Northern hemisphere, was a flash in the pan compared to the ancient cultures that inhabit it as their own. That day, I believe I became the first of my ancestors to actually set foot in the New World, with the seed of an indigenous, native person planted within. Later, I found a quote of the poet Gary Snyder's that described the nature of my epiphany: "For the non-Native American to become at home on this continent, he or she must be born again in this hemisphere, on this continent, properly called Turtle Island." I believe that day I was born again. I got "indigenized," as a Native American friend calls it. This is my own epiphany: Six years ago, I was just a little girl who loved to enjoy the company of other kids who were born in Vietnam, and spoken the same language which I grew so familiar with. Until my parents surprised me one day when they told me, "we are going to America!" For a short moment, I thought it was a worse thing ever, because I was going to some country that I did not know of. But it was even worst when I found out my parents decided to leave me in America to stay with my aunt, whom I just met for the first time in thirteen years. When I first entered school in America, I found school had become a challenge. The language was unfamiliar, and I could not understand most of the words spoken by the teachers nor the materials covered in classes. I kept on failing all of my classes which had never happened to me before when I was in Vietnam. I felt so ashamed as I looked at my first report card. I tried to convince myself the reason I fail was because I could not understand English. I soon realized that it was not because I could not understand English that had gotten me the bad grades, but it was me who did not want to try harder due to the sudden change of my surrounding environment. As I kept on asking myself questions "how could my parents leave me here alone?" or "how come everything has become so difficult?" it came to my conscious that everything was not placed out for me to choose. Sometimes things could happen unexpectedly, and I should learn how to adapt to changing situations. Soon, I decided to give my best effort to struggle with learning English, and tried to work twice as hard as other kids who already knew English better than me. Maybe changes were not as bad as I imagined. Often time, I looked back into my past and I always thanked my parents for leaving me in America. Maybe it would be better for me to live without my parents at a young age, because I could learn to be independent. Not only that, I even learned English faster than other kids in Vietnam, while it came with no cost. Hope that will help :)

OP Adilene 1 / 3   Nov 14, 2010   #3 thank you so much it helps me too much... thanks =)

OP Adilene 1 / 3   Nov 27, 2010   #5 thanks so much Kevin...

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Partial Eclipse of the Heart

I’m not traveling to see the totality. and you shouldn’t feel pressured to do so either.

“Seeing a partial eclipse,” wrote Annie Dillard in a 1982 essay, “bears the same relation to seeing a total eclipse as kissing a man does to marrying him.” She recounts the strange spirituality of witnessing totality on a mountainside in central Washington.

It sounds amazing! And I get her metaphor—you can’t know how wonderful and strange some events in life are until you have experienced them. An astronomer made Dillard’s point in more scientific terms to a reporter at the Montreal Gazette : “A partial eclipse, when you’re just outside the path of totality—be it 99.9 percent—is not 99.9 percent of the experience of a total eclipse. You’re very far from it.” The astronomer had personally traveled to see 10 solar eclipses across the world.

So, yes, in basic terms, I understand why people are going to great lengths to experience Monday’s solar eclipse. The editor of this piece, for example, is driving at least seven hours one way to northern New Hampshire to see it. In 2017 parenting and science writer Melinda Wenner Moyer wondered if hauling her family 2,880 miles across the country to witness the eclipse would be a mistake, before finding the experience “magically surreal—worth every mile.”

But let me make the case for the rest of us, the non–eclipse chasers, who are staying home. The entire U.S. will be experiencing a partial solar eclipse . Just watch that! It may not be as cool, but it will be cool too.

Here was my partial eclipse experience in 2017 in New York: I went on the roof of the apartment building in Chinatown where the Wirecutter, my employer at the time, had a test home and watched with my co-workers as a chunk of the sun got taken out by the moon. It was nice? I don’t think that it changed my life or anything—to go back to Dillard’s comparison—the way marriage has, but in terms of experiences I would like to repeat, it was a good one. A unique twist on a workday, for sure.

There are ways to maximize the enjoyment of a partial eclipse. Ann Finkbeiner, a writer who covers astronomy, among other things, chronicled her experience, during the ’90s, of viewing a partial eclipse from her home in Baltimore, and what happened after she turned her eyes not to the sky but to the ground. She describes the hundreds of tiny crescent “baby eclipses” that formed in the shadows when vines and leaves acted like pinhole cameras. “​​I didn’t have to do a thing for it, God and physics just handed it to us,” she writes, adding, “It wasn’t a big epiphany, more like goofy delight.” That does sound delightful!

And one more layer. We have already established that a partial eclipse is not the same experience as a full one. But will the partial eclipse be a lesser experience? Only if you evaluate it in terms of a three-ish-minute span of time, the length of time the sun will be covered by the moon in the path of totality (though this amount is even less in some places that are still in the totality). What if you include all of the surrounding time, effort, money, and travel that it will take to get to having those three-ish minutes in that place? (As well as the possibility of scrambling to reorient your plans when cloud cover threatens to interfere with the experience.) The New York Times reported that one hotel in Illinois, a normally inexpensive Super 8, is charging nearly $1,000 for a one-night stay during the event. “Having a total solar eclipse pass through the U.S. is kind of like having 20 or 30 Super Bowls happening all at once,” a member of the American Astronomical Society’s Solar Eclipse Task Force told Time magazine . The piece warns of traffic jams and advises eclipse chasers to extend their stays in towns, arriving early and leaving late. I am simply not a person who likes being in crowded areas! Life in New York provides quite enough opportunities for that.

I did not, completely, just lie down and accept the partial eclipse as my eclipse experience. I briefly considered flying to Texas and staying with a friend. (For some reason I now forget, this weekend wasn’t ideal.) I also thought about traveling to Montreal, a city I love dearly. (This time of year, though, can still fairly be considered winter: The city just experienced a snowstorm , and honestly, I don’t want to visit during that.) I guess what I am saying is that, in addition to not liking crowds, I prefer my travel be dictated by terms other than alignment of the moon and the sun.

A partial eclipse may not be the same as a full one, but that doesn’t mean it’s not still cool. To return, again, to Dillard’s metaphor: Marriage is great. But you know what’s also amazing? Kissing! 

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NPR in Turmoil After It Is Accused of Liberal Bias

An essay from an editor at the broadcaster has generated a firestorm of criticism about the network on social media, especially among conservatives.

By Benjamin Mullin and Katie Robertson

NPR is facing both internal tumult and a fusillade of attacks by prominent conservatives this week after a senior editor publicly claimed the broadcaster had allowed liberal bias to affect its coverage, risking its trust with audiences.

Uri Berliner, a senior business editor who has worked at NPR for 25 years, wrote in an essay published Tuesday by The Free Press, a popular Substack publication, that “people at every level of NPR have comfortably coalesced around the progressive worldview.”

Mr. Berliner, a Peabody Award-winning journalist, castigated NPR for what he said was a litany of journalistic missteps around coverage of several major news events, including the origins of Covid-19 and the war in Gaza. He also said the internal culture at NPR had placed race and identity as “paramount in nearly every aspect of the workplace.”

Mr. Berliner’s essay has ignited a firestorm of criticism of NPR on social media, especially among conservatives who have long accused the network of political bias in its reporting. Former President Donald J. Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to argue that NPR’s government funding should be rescinded, an argument he has made in the past.

NPR has forcefully pushed back on Mr. Berliner’s accusations and the criticism.

“We’re proud to stand behind the exceptional work that our desks and shows do to cover a wide range of challenging stories,” Edith Chapin, the organization’s editor in chief, said in an email to staff on Tuesday. “We believe that inclusion — among our staff, with our sourcing, and in our overall coverage — is critical to telling the nuanced stories of this country and our world.” Some other NPR journalists also criticized the essay publicly, including Eric Deggans, its TV critic, who faulted Mr. Berliner for not giving NPR an opportunity to comment on the piece.

In an interview on Thursday, Mr. Berliner expressed no regrets about publishing the essay, saying he loved NPR and hoped to make it better by airing criticisms that have gone unheeded by leaders for years. He called NPR a “national trust” that people rely on for fair reporting and superb storytelling.

“I decided to go out and publish it in hopes that something would change, and that we get a broader conversation going about how the news is covered,” Mr. Berliner said.

He said he had not been disciplined by managers, though he said he had received a note from his supervisor reminding him that NPR requires employees to clear speaking appearances and media requests with standards and media relations. He said he didn’t run his remarks to The New York Times by network spokespeople.

When the hosts of NPR’s biggest shows, including “Morning Edition” and “All Things Considered,” convened on Wednesday afternoon for a long-scheduled meet-and-greet with the network’s new chief executive, Katherine Maher , conversation soon turned to Mr. Berliner’s essay, according to two people with knowledge of the meeting. During the lunch, Ms. Chapin told the hosts that she didn’t want Mr. Berliner to become a “martyr,” the people said.

Mr. Berliner’s essay also sent critical Slack messages whizzing through some of the same employee affinity groups focused on racial and sexual identity that he cited in his essay. In one group, several staff members disputed Mr. Berliner’s points about a lack of ideological diversity and said efforts to recruit more people of color would make NPR’s journalism better.

On Wednesday, staff members from “Morning Edition” convened to discuss the fallout from Mr. Berliner’s essay. During the meeting, an NPR producer took issue with Mr. Berliner’s argument for why NPR’s listenership has fallen off, describing a variety of factors that have contributed to the change.

Mr. Berliner’s remarks prompted vehement pushback from several news executives. Tony Cavin, NPR’s managing editor of standards and practices, said in an interview that he rejected all of Mr. Berliner’s claims of unfairness, adding that his remarks would probably make it harder for NPR journalists to do their jobs.

“The next time one of our people calls up a Republican congressman or something and tries to get an answer from them, they may well say, ‘Oh, I read these stories, you guys aren’t fair, so I’m not going to talk to you,’” Mr. Cavin said.

Some journalists have defended Mr. Berliner’s essay. Jeffrey A. Dvorkin, NPR’s former ombudsman, said Mr. Berliner was “not wrong” on social media. Chuck Holmes, a former managing editor at NPR, called Mr. Berliner’s essay “brave” on Facebook.

Mr. Berliner’s criticism was the latest salvo within NPR, which is no stranger to internal division. In October, Mr. Berliner took part in a lengthy debate over whether NPR should defer to language proposed by the Arab and Middle Eastern Journalists Association while covering the conflict in Gaza.

“We don’t need to rely on an advocacy group’s guidance,” Mr. Berliner wrote, according to a copy of the email exchange viewed by The Times. “Our job is to seek out the facts and report them.” The debate didn’t change NPR’s language guidance, which is made by editors who weren’t part of the discussion. And in a statement on Thursday, the Arab and Middle Eastern Journalists Association said it is a professional association for journalists, not a political advocacy group.

Mr. Berliner’s public criticism has highlighted broader concerns within NPR about the public broadcaster’s mission amid continued financial struggles. Last year, NPR cut 10 percent of its staff and canceled four podcasts, including the popular “Invisibilia,” as it tried to make up for a $30 million budget shortfall. Listeners have drifted away from traditional radio to podcasts, and the advertising market has been unsteady.

In his essay, Mr. Berliner laid some of the blame at the feet of NPR’s former chief executive, John Lansing, who said he was retiring at the end of last year after four years in the role. He was replaced by Ms. Maher, who started on March 25.

During a meeting with employees in her first week, Ms. Maher was asked what she thought about decisions to give a platform to political figures like Ronna McDaniel, the former Republican Party chair whose position as a political analyst at NBC News became untenable after an on-air revolt from hosts who criticized her efforts to undermine the 2020 election.

“I think that this conversation has been one that does not have an easy answer,” Ms. Maher responded.

Benjamin Mullin reports on the major companies behind news and entertainment. Contact Ben securely on Signal at +1 530-961-3223 or email at [email protected] . More about Benjamin Mullin

Katie Robertson covers the media industry for The Times. Email:  [email protected]   More about Katie Robertson