Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

hysterical realism

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.27 in modern English

Syllables: hys-ter-i-cal re-al-ism
IPA

27

Scrabble Score

17

Letters

6

Syllables

11

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A literary genre typified by a strong contrast between elaborately absurd prose, plotting, or characterization, on the one hand, and careful, detailed investigations of real, specific social phenomena on the other.

Uncountable

Example Sentences

"This is not magical realism. It is hysterical realism. […] The conventions of realism are not being abolished but, on the contrary, exhausted, and overworked."

Etymology

Coined by English critic James Wood in 2000 to describe Zadie Smith's White Teeth.

Usage

Uncountable

Phrases

magic realism

Frequently Paired Words

magic realism

Questions

What does hysterical realism mean?: A literary genre typified by a strong contrast between elaborately absurd prose, plotting, or characterization, on the one hand, and careful, detailed investigations of real, specific social phenomena on the other.
Where does hysterical realism come from?: Coined by English critic James Wood in 2000 to describe Zadie Smith's White Teeth.

How to pronounce hysterical realism

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