17th-century critic Thomas Rymer coined this 2-word term, instructing that a work should uphold moral principles & see vice punished

The Final Jeopardy clue for Friday, May 22, 2026, appeared in the category “Literary Terminology” and read: “17th-century critic Thomas Rymer coined this 2-word term, instructing that a work should uphold moral principles & see vice punished.” The clue points to a familiar phrase in literary criticism that describes a moral balance in storytelling, where good is rewarded and wrongdoing receives consequences.

What Is Poetic Justice?

The correct response is poetic justice. The term is commonly associated with the idea that literature should show moral order, meaning virtue should be rewarded and vice should be punished.

Thomas Rymer, a 17th-century English critic, is credited with coining the phrase. His view of drama and poetry was shaped by the belief that works of art should not simply entertain, but also reinforce moral principles. In that sense, “poetic justice” was not only a description of a plot outcome. It was also a standard he believed writers should follow.

Thomas Rymer and Literary Criticism

Thomas Rymer was an influential critic of the Restoration era, a period when English drama and literary theory were shaped by debates over rules, taste, morality, and classical models. Critics of his time often judged works according to whether they followed accepted principles of structure, character, and moral instruction.

Rymer’s use of “poetic justice” reflected his belief that literature had an ethical purpose. A story, in his view, should present a world in which moral actions have fitting results. That meant audiences should see good conduct supported and harmful conduct punished.

What Poetic Justice Means

Poetic justice refers to an outcome in which characters receive consequences that feel morally appropriate. A villain may be exposed, punished, or destroyed, while an innocent or virtuous character may be vindicated or rewarded.

The phrase is often used when the ending of a story seems especially fitting. It suggests that the conclusion is not random, but carries a sense of moral symmetry. The punishment or reward usually matches the character’s actions in a way that gives the audience a feeling of closure.

Why the Term Still Matters

Although modern literature does not always follow Rymer’s moral expectations, the phrase “poetic justice” remains widely used. It appears in discussions of novels, plays, films, television, and real-life events when an outcome seems to deliver a fitting consequence.

Writers may use poetic justice sincerely, ironically, or even subvert it by refusing to give characters the outcomes readers expect. That flexibility has helped the term survive long after the strict moral rules of Rymer’s era faded from mainstream criticism.

Why This Final Jeopardy Clue Works

This clue works because it defines the concept without naming it directly. The phrase “uphold moral principles” points to the “justice” part of the answer, while the literary category and reference to a critic point to the “poetic” part.

The correct response, poetic justice, fits every part of the clue. It is a two-word literary term, it is linked to Thomas Rymer, and it describes the idea that a work should present a moral order where vice is punished and virtue is upheld.