A single word that describes the moment a person realizes they are dreaming?
I would use anagnorisis, which is the moment in a Greek narrative when the protagonist has a sudden realization of their true identity.
I am not sure how specialized moments of realization are in English. Using words that just mean that (in varied forms):
- realization
- discovery
- awakening
- aware
- epiphany
- eureka
- click — "And then it clicked: I was dreaming!"
I am unable to think of a word that is reserved for a special subject of realization. Different terms have their typical uses but I think the emotional feeling or suddenness is more of a deciding factor.
The verb form of "surface" may be appropriate. It seems to capture the notion of partial emergence without complete exit.
Epiphany --> moment of realization
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphany_(feeling)