In any narrative, a foil is a character who contrasts with another character, typically, a character who contrasts with the protagonist, in order to better...

A narrative, story, or tale is any account of a series of related events or experiences, whether non-fictional (memoir, biography, news report, documentary...

Nonlinear narrative, disjointed narrative, or disrupted narrative is a narrative technique where events are portrayed, for example, out of chronological...

between characters or visual action. The narrative mode, which is sometimes also used as synonym for narrative technique, encompasses the set of choices...

A frame story (also known as a frame tale, frame narrative, sandwich narrative, or intercalation) is a literary technique that serves as a companion piece...

In a literary work, film, or other narrative, the plot is the sequence of events in which each event affects the next one through the principle of cause-and-effect...

Ancient Greek κλῖμαξ (klîmax) 'staircase, ladder') or turning point of a narrative work is its point of highest tension and drama, or it is the time when...

literary studies, a theme is a central topic, subject, or message within a narrative. Themes can be divided into two categories: a work's thematic concept...

Story structure or narrative structure is the recognizable or comprehensible way in which a narrative's different elements are unified, including in a...

Narrative exposition, now often simply exposition, is the insertion of background information within a story or narrative. This information can be about...

recurs across a story; often, it helps develop other narrative elements such as theme or mood. A narrative motif can be created through the use of imagery...

A narrative technique (also, in fiction, a fictional device) is any of several storytelling methods the creator of a story uses, thus effectively relaying...

Creative nonfiction (also known as literary nonfiction, narrative nonfiction, literary journalism or verfabula) is a genre of writing that uses literary...

more formally known as analepsis, is an interjected scene that takes the narrative back in time from the current point in the story. Flashbacks are often...

Narratology is the study of narrative and narrative structure and the ways that these affect human perception. The term is an anglicisation of French...

A setting (or backdrop) is the time and geographic location within a narrative, either non-fiction or fiction. It is a literary element. The setting initiates...

Traditionally, conflict is a major element of narrative or dramatic structure that creates challenges in a story by adding uncertainty as to whether the...

narrator twists the ending by revealing, almost always at the end of the narrative, that the narrator has manipulated or fabricated the preceding story,...

In literary criticism, stream of consciousness is a narrative mode or method that attempts "to depict the multitudinous thoughts and feelings which pass...

more formally known as prolepsis) is a scene that temporarily takes the narrative forward in time from the current point of the story in literature, film...

elements of a plot, creating what is sometimes called a multiple narrative, or multi-narrative. However, a similar concept is applied to historical process...

A plot device or plot mechanism is any technique in a narrative used to move the plot forward. A clichéd plot device may annoy the reader and a contrived...

society. Picaresque novels typically adopt the form of "an episodic prose narrative" with a realistic style. There are often some elements of comedy and satire...

A story arc (also narrative arc) is the chronological construction of a plot in a novel or story. It can also mean an extended or continuing storyline...

Narrative therapy (or narrative practice) is a form of psychotherapy that seeks to help patients identify their values and the skills associated with...

constructed universe, is the internally consistent fictional setting used in a narrative or a work of art. This concept is most commonly associated with works...

enhancing the overall pace of the narrative. frequent paragraphing: by employing frequent paragraph breaks, the narrative becomes more visually appealing...

(sometimes spelled as anti-hero) or anti-heroine is a main character in a narrative (in literature, film, TV, etc.) who may lack some conventional heroic...

Flash fiction is a brief fictional narrative that still offers character and plot development. Identified varieties, many of them defined by word count...

folklore that consists of a narrative featuring human actions, believed or perceived to have taken place in human history. Narratives in this genre may demonstrate...