What Is Anachronism? | Definition & Examples
Anachronism is when film, literature, or other types of storytelling use something from one time period in a different time period. It can be something from the past used in a futuristic setting or something from the future used in the past. Anachronisms can be accidental, such as historical inaccuracies, or intentional to make a point or add humor.
This is an example of an intentional anachronism done for comedic effect.
What is anachronism?
Anachronism (pronounced [uh-nak-ruh-niz-uhm]) is when something is placed in the wrong time period—either ahead or behind where it belongs. The word “anachronism” can be broken down into two Greek root words—“ana-,” which means “against,” and “chronos,” which means “time.”
Anachronisms can jar or shock an audience to highlight a historical inaccuracy, which sometimes happens unintentionally. On the other hand, they can also be used intentionally to create a comedic effect or artistic or social commentary.
Anachronisms can occur in various forms, including:
- Objects (e.g., a wristwatch worn by a gladiator in Ancient Rome)
- Language (e.g., a Shakespearean character saying “okay”—a term not used in Elizabethan times)
- People (e.g., Abraham Lincoln attending a modern political rally)
- Customs/behaviors (e.g., a knight in the Middle Ages celebrating a birthday with a cake and candles, a tradition that only became common much later)
- Technology (e.g., a caveman writing in a journal with a ballpoint pen)
- Cultural references (e.g., a Shakespearean character referencing the Academy Awards)
What are different types of anachronism?
There are three main ways anachronisms can occur. It depends on whether the misaligned object belongs to an earlier time, a future time, or is simply out of sync with the setting. The three primary types of anachronism are parachronism, prochronism, and metachronism.
Parachronism is when something from the past is placed in a setting that no longer fits because it is considered outdated (e.g., a soldier in World War II riding a horse into battle instead of driving a tank).
Prochronism is when something from the future is placed into a past setting (e.g., a 19th-century sailor using a GPS system instead of navigating by maps or stars).
Metachronism is a more general form of time distortion. It happens when elements from different time periods get mixed up in the same setting, regardless of whether they’re from the past or future (e.g., a futuristic space explorer drinking out of a medieval goblet).
Why anachronism matters
Anachronisms play an important role in shaping how the audience experiences a story, film, or piece of art.
Unintentional anachronisms can damage the authenticity of a period piece and distract the audience. On the other hand, deliberate anachronisms can be used for creative purposes, including humor, reimagining traditional narratives, or making political or social commentary.
Films and literature may introduce progressive social, political, or racial values into a time period when those values didn’t exist. Doing so intentionally uses modern concepts, values, or characters to make the audience critique historical practices or consider contemporary issues through the lens of the past.
Many artists intentionally use anachronisms in their work to provide a deeper meaning or add a unique perspective. Comedy often uses anachronisms to create absurdity or misdirection that clashes with the audience’s expectations to create a funny contrast.
Anachronism examples
Anachronisms often occur in movies, both intentionally and unintentionally.
The 1996 film Romeo and Juliet creates intentional anachronisms by combining the 16th-century language associated with a Shakespearean period piece with the use of guns—the director’s modern-day take on the swords used for battle during that time.
Anachronisms have been occurring in literature for many years.
Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre-Dame is set in 1482 and presents the printing press as a profoundly influential technology that threatens the influence of the church. The reality is that in 1482, the printing press was still in its infancy and didn’t have nearly as much influence as Hugo suggested. Hugo writes about the printing press with a level of sophistication reflected in the 19th century—when the book was written.
Frequently asked questions about anachronisms
- What is an example of anachronism in literature?
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An example of anachronism in literature is Shakespeare’s reference to cannon fire in Macbeth.
The play is set during King Macbeth of Scotland’s reign, which occurred during the 11th century. However, cannons were not introduced to Europe until the 14th century—about 300 years after the setting of Macbeth.
This is an example of prochronism, a type of anachronism where something from the future is depicted in a past setting.
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- What is a parachronism?
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Parachronism is a type of anachronism that occurs when something from the past is placed in a futuristic or modern setting.
In other words, parachronism is when a modern setting uses a person, object, or technology that doesn’t fit because it is considered outdated (e.g., a typewriter in a modern office setting).
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Cove, R. (2024, October 09). What Is Anachronism? | Definition & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved December 3, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/rhetoric/anachronism/
