Which term describes something out of its proper time period, like a modern gadget in a Shakespearean play?

• A. Aberration
• B. Approbation
• C. Anachronism
• D. Belie

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is naming a timing mismatch in literature—the thing appears in the wrong historical period. Anachronism is when an object, idea, or person belongs to a different time than the setting of the work, so a modern gadget showing up in a Shakespearean play instantly signals that time clash. This term captures the specific mismatch between era and what’s being depicted.

Aberration refers to a deviation from what’s typical or expected, which could describe strange events but isn’t tied to time periods. Approbation means approval or praise, unrelated to chronology. Belie means to give a false impression or contradict, which is about truth rather than timing. So the best fit for a time-mismatch scenario is anachronism.