Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Chronological distance refers to the time period that separates an author's work from the present day. It measures how far removed a literary text is from contemporary readers.
Related terms
Historical Context: Historical context encompasses the social, cultural, and political conditions that existed during a specific time period when a literary work was created.
Anachronism: Anachronism occurs when something appears in a literary work that does not belong to its historical era, creating an inconsistency with chronology.
Periodization: Periodization involves dividing history into distinct periods based on significant events or characteristics shared by works produced during those times.