Anachronism

Termine letterario · pronuncialo uh-NAK-ruh-niz-um

An anachronism is something that appears in a story outside its proper historical time. It might be an object, expression, or custom that does not fit the period in which the action takes place.

Two ways anachronism appears

A misplaced historical detail

An object or practice appears in a period when it did not yet exist. A small detail can reveal a gap between the story’s setting and historical fact.

In Julius Caesar, a clock strikes during the conspirators’ meeting. Ancient Rome did not have the kind of striking clock the scene suggests.

In Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare

A deliberate clash of periods

Things from different centuries appear together openly. The clash can bring humor or invite comparisons between societies.

In A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Hank Morgan introduces telephone lines into Arthur’s Britain. Modern technology sits alongside knights and castles.

In A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain

How to spot anachronism

Identify the historical period of the story.
Look for objects, words, or customs that seem out of place.
Check whether those details existed in that time and place.

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Is an anachronism always a mistake?

An anachronism is not always a mistake. Some stories openly mix periods for humor, contrast, or social criticism. In others, an out-of-place detail may be an oversight, though the detail alone does not prove whether it was intentional.

What is the difference between an anachronism and a flashback?

An anachronism places a detail in the wrong historical period, while a flashback moves the story to an earlier event. A flashback changes when the action happens; it does not necessarily put anything outside its proper time.