What is Anachronism?
A person or thing placed out of time, before it was known to exist.
Examples
- A historical character using a modern idiom
- An object that has not yet been invented, like Tupperware in the 1800s
- A 50-star American flag in a play or movie set before 1960
Anachronism in Literature
Anachronism is often a mistake made by an unaware (or lazy) author… But it’s not always an accident.
You can use anachronism for:
- Rhetoric
- Comedy
- Shock
- Commentary
Example
Mark Twain’s novel A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court. The title itself is an intentional anachronism, because Connecticut did not yet exist during King Arthur’s time.