It is this ordinary but exalted image that compels him to turn to the pursuit of expressing beauty. In this scene, the protagonist Stephen Dedalus is struck still by the pure beauty of a woman standing in the surf at the beach. … But her long fair hair was girlish: and girlish, and touched with the wonder of mortal beauty, her face. Her long slender bare legs were as delicate as a crane’s and pure save where an emerald trail of seaweed had fashioned itself as a sign upon the flesh. She seemed like one whom magic had changed into the likeness of a strange and beautiful sea bird. Example 2Ĭonsidered one of the most powerful users of epiphany in prose, James Joyce describes epiphany as a moment when “The soul of the commonest object, the structure of which is so adjusted, seems to us radiant.”įor an example of Joyce’s use of epiphany, read this excerpt from the novel A Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man:Ī girl stood before him in midstream, alone and still, gazing out to the sea. Suddenly, she is aware of “The How and Why of all things.” The epiphany rises from nothing and strikes the speaker with sudden revelation. Once simply looking upon nature’s beauty, the speaker is overwhelmed with ideas like infinity, immensity, and eternity. Quickly, though, upon looking at the sky, an epiphany occurs: The poem begins simply: the speaker is looking at a nature scene. Example 1įor a classic example of epiphany, read these excerpts from Edna St. As a plot device, epiphany often marks a turning point in the character’s psyche which leads to the eventual conclusion of the story.Įpiphany provides literary plots with sudden turns which remarkably change the character’s point of view and life path. Epiphanies also provide readers and audiences with hope, as the ability to see things in a new way and to change our lives is inspiring and redeeming, especially for people who have struggled to succeed or to find higher meaning in life. Because epiphanies often occur in real life at such typical and everyday moments, they provide plays, poems, prose, and film with realistic yet inspiring instances of revelation. Epiphanies are rare occurrences marked by great philosophical, spiritual, or personal insight. In this moment, Amy realizes she must change her life to be the best mother she can be.Įpiphanies provide narratives with some of the most exciting and compelling events, pulled out of ordinary moments. This is a more predictable epiphany, as the moment of birth is a very emotional time for a mother. This third epiphany occurs when a woman gives birth to her daughter. She has to be a role model for her daughter, and she has to live as long as possible to see her grow up. It isn’t until she gives birth to her daughter that she has a moment of revelation: she has to quit. She knows she would be healthier if she quit, and people have urged her to quit, but she just can’t. Example 2Īmy has been smoking for fifteen years. Ryan falls in love with Mary not when she looks the most beautiful or speaks the most gracefully, but when she trips on her shoelace and blushes. This epiphany is almost comedic in its randomness, but it shows how epiphanies can occur at any moment, and how they tend to occur when they are least expected. As she embarrassedly stands up blushing and finds her desk, Ryan realizes he is in love with her. It’s a normal day in class when Mary trips on her shoelace and falls down. The same instances of revelation occur in everyday life. The revelation, though, rises above everyday thought: he realizes he must change his attitude in order to fix his marriage.Įpiphanic moments are not restricted to literature. In this example, the man’s epiphany is prompted by an everyday argument. In the middle of a typical argument with his wife, a man realizes he has been the one causing every single argument, and that in order to keep his marriage, he must stop being such an aggressive person. Often, an epiphany begins with a small, everyday occurrence or experience. For example: As a literary device, epiphany (pronounced ih- pif- uh-nee) is the moment when a character is suddenly struck with a life-changing realization which changes the rest of the story.
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