WordValeframe narrative
a story that contains another story within it
In more detail
A narrative technique where a story is told within another story, with an outer story that contains and introduces one or more inner stories.
Examples
- The book uses a frame narrative where an old man tells his grandchildren about his adventures during the war.
How to use frame narrative
A frame narrative is a literary technique where an overarching story contains and presents one or more inner stories, creating a layered narrative structure. It is commonly used in classic literature such as One Thousand and One Nights and The Canterbury Tales, and modern works continue to employ this technique. The term is used in literary analysis and creative writing contexts to describe this specific structural approach.
Common phrases
- frame narrative structure
- use a frame narrative
- frame narrative technique
- within the frame narrative
- the frame narrative introduces
Synonyms
nested narrative · story within a story · bracketing narrative · outer story
Word family
frame (verb/noun) · narrative (noun/adjective)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse frame narrative with flashback, though a frame narrative involves a complete outer story that deliberately presents inner narratives, whereas a flashback is a temporary shift in time within a single narrative.
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