The black hole that is my aging mind...
June 8, 2010 8:08 PM   Subscribe

Mind freeze: what is the word/term for a literary mistake in a piece of fiction like the wrong stovetop chimneys in Charles Dickens? Something an author has put in a period piece but could not possibly exist in the time the work of fiction took place?

We learned about this term way back in high school but I’m drawing a blank. It’s not continuity and it’s not enigma… what heck is it?
posted by eatdonuts to Writing & Language (7 answers total)
 
Best answer: anachronism.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 8:08 PM on June 8, 2010


Best answer: Anachronism?
posted by Opposite George at 8:08 PM on June 8, 2010


Dammit, McGee!
posted by Opposite George at 8:09 PM on June 8, 2010 [3 favorites]


Response by poster: ding ding ding! ty! I lose my bet, I thought it would take 10 minutes. Ah the collective hive is a win!
posted by eatdonuts at 8:09 PM on June 8, 2010


Response by poster: well played gentlemen! now have some corn!
posted by eatdonuts at 8:10 PM on June 8, 2010 [2 favorites]


I think you mean "now have some maize!"
posted by orthogonality at 9:24 PM on June 8, 2010 [2 favorites]


You may also run into what are sometimes referred to as parachronism or anatopism.

I couldn't remember exactly what they were called, either.
posted by a halcyon day at 9:40 PM on June 8, 2010 [1 favorite]


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