Frame story
Literary term · say it FRAYM STOR-ee
A frame story is an outer story that surrounds and introduces one or more inner stories. It shows who is telling those stories, who is listening, and sometimes why the telling matters.
Ways a frame story appears
A gathering of storytellers
The outer story brings people together and gives them a reason to tell separate tales.
In The Canterbury Tales, pilgrims travelling to Canterbury agree to a storytelling contest, giving a shared setting to their different tales.
In The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer
A listener hears a long account
The outer story introduces a speaker and an audience before the speaker begins the main account.
In Heart of Darkness, men aboard a boat on the Thames listen as Marlow recounts his journey into the Congo.
In Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
Stories inside stories
An inner story can contain another speaker's account, creating several layers within the frame.
In Frankenstein, Walton's letters contain Victor Frankenstein's account, which in turn includes the creature's account of his own experiences.
In Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
How to spot a frame story
- Look for a scene that introduces someone telling a story.
- Notice when the action shifts into that person's account.
- Check whether the text returns to the original speaker and listeners.
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What is the difference between a frame story and a flashback?
A frame story surrounds another story, while a flashback shows an earlier event within a narrative. A flashback may briefly interrupt the action without introducing a storyteller or listener. A frame establishes a situation in which another account is told.
Why do writers use a frame story?
A frame story gives readers a reason and a setting for hearing another tale. It can connect several tales, show how listeners respond, or raise questions about a storyteller's reliability. The outer events may also change how readers understand the inner story.
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