Literary notes about Perplexity (AI summary)
The term perplexity in literature often conveys a rich blend of emotional confusion and cognitive disarray, capturing moments when characters are left puzzled or overwhelmed by circumstance. Authors use it to reflect internal conflicts and the sudden emergence of uncertainty—sometimes as a reaction to carelessness or chaotic events, as seen when historical confusion is lamented [1] or when a character's emotional turmoil manifests in a fleeting, troubled look [2]. In narrative dialogue and description alike, perplexity encapsulates both passive bewilderment and the internal struggle to understand or engage with the world, evident in instances of gentle, almost resigned uncertainty [3] and reflective doubt over complex ideas [4]. This versatility in meaning allows perplexity to serve as a powerful literary device, articulating the multifaceted experience of human bewilderment in the face of life’s unpredictable challenges.