what does epiphany mean in literature
home / study / english / literature / definitions / epiphany. Epiphany is the point in a work of literature where a character has a sudden insight or realization that changes his or her understanding. Epiphany was both employed and made popular as a literary term by James Joyce, and explained at length in his autobiographical novel, Stephen Hero.
Epiphany Definition. Derived from the Greek word âepiphaneiaâ, epiphany means âappearanceâ or âmanifestation. 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.