Story within a story

This dramatic device was apparently first used by Thomas Kyd in The Spanish Tragedy around 1587, where it forms the spectacular resolution of the story. Kyd is also assumed to have used it in his lost Hamlet (the so-called Ur-Hamlet). In The Spanish Tragedy, Hieronimo is so convinced of the far-reaching consequences of his "revelation" that he predicts it will bring about the "fall of Babylon". In his use of the play within the play, Kyd seems to take Aristotle's idea ...

See also:

Story within a story, Story within a story - Play within a play, Story within a story - Story within a story within a story

Read more here: » Story within a story: Encyclopedia II - Story within a story - Play within a play

Son coeur est un luth suspendu; Sitôt qu'on le touche il résonne. His heart is a suspended lute; Whenever one touches it, it resounds. Béranger's original text reads "Mon coeur" (my heart) and not "Son coeur" (his heart). The narrator describes Usher's musical compositions, commenting that: "Among other things, I hold painfully in mind a certain singular perversion and amplification of the wild air of the last waltz of Von Weber." Poe here refers to See also:

The Fall of the House of Usher, The Fall of the House of Usher - Synopsis, The Fall of the House of Usher - Themes, The Fall of the House of Usher - References to other works of art, The Fall of the House of Usher - Roderick Usher's library, The Fall of the House of Usher - Criticism and analysis, The Fall of the House of Usher - Film adaptations and influences, The Fall of the House of Usher - List of films

Read more here: » The Fall of the House of Usher: Encyclopedia II - The Fall of the House of Usher - References to other works of art

When a fictional character's primary existence is in a media outlet that, itself, is fictional, that character is a fictional fictional character. This is usually, but not necessarily, done for comedic effect. For example, when John Ritter played the role of Garry Lejeune in the motion picture Noises Off, and Garry played the role of Roger Tramplemain in the stage production of Nothing On, Roger became a fictional fictional chara ...

See also:

Fictional fictional character, Fictional fictional character - Fictional fictional characters, Fictional fictional character - Frame stories, Fictional fictional character - Fictional artists, Fictional fictional character - Deeply nested fiction, Fictional fictional character - From fiction to reality, Fictional fictional character - Recursion, Fictional fictional character - Examples, Fictional fictional character - Individual characters, Fictional fictional character - Shakespeare, Fictional fictional character - Other examples

Read more here: » Fictional fictional character: Encyclopedia II - Fictional fictional character - Fictional fictional characters

Fictional fictional character - Individual characters. Itchy and Scratchy Suicide Squid Captain Proton Dixon Hill Atreyu Wart from Super Mario Bros. 2 Fictional fictional character - Shakespeare. A Midsummer Night's Dream Hamlet Love's Labours Lost Fictional fictional character - Other examples. Noises Off Wormhole X-Treme! Super Mario Bros. ...

See also:

Fictional fictional character, Fictional fictional character - Fictional fictional characters, Fictional fictional character - Frame stories, Fictional fictional character - Fictional artists, Fictional fictional character - Deeply nested fiction, Fictional fictional character - From fiction to reality, Fictional fictional character - Recursion, Fictional fictional character - Examples, Fictional fictional character - Individual characters, Fictional fictional character - Shakespeare, Fictional fictional character - Other examples

Read more here: » Fictional fictional character: Encyclopedia II - Fictional fictional character - Examples

Occasionally, though primarily on television, the characters in a story become the subjects of dramatizations based on their own lives or events that they have experienced. The most notorious case of this took place on the Seinfeld television series; it has also happened on other shows including The X-Files and the short-lived Ellery Queen series. There is also the "recursive story", for example: "'Twas a dark and stormy night, and the captain said to his crew, "Gather round, and I'll tell ye a tale." S ...

See also:

Fictional fictional character, Fictional fictional character - Fictional fictional characters, Fictional fictional character - Frame stories, Fictional fictional character - Fictional artists, Fictional fictional character - Deeply nested fiction, Fictional fictional character - From fiction to reality, Fictional fictional character - Recursion, Fictional fictional character - Examples, Fictional fictional character - Individual characters, Fictional fictional character - Shakespeare, Fictional fictional character - Other examples

Read more here: » Fictional fictional character: Encyclopedia II - Fictional fictional character - Recursion

Poe always conveys one human characteristic in each of his short stories as one of his major themes. The theme that Poe conveys through this story is that of fear. The doppelgänger theme, prominent in many of Poe's works, such as William Wilson, appears in The Fall of the House of Usher. The reflection of the house in the tarn is described in the opening paragraph, and "a striking similitude between the brother and sister" is mentioned when Madeline "dies". The death and resurrection of a woman, a main theme i ...

See also:

The Fall of the House of Usher, The Fall of the House of Usher - Synopsis, The Fall of the House of Usher - Themes, The Fall of the House of Usher - References to other works of art, The Fall of the House of Usher - Roderick Usher's library, The Fall of the House of Usher - Criticism and analysis, The Fall of the House of Usher - Film adaptations and influences, The Fall of the House of Usher - List of films

Read more here: » The Fall of the House of Usher: Encyclopedia II - The Fall of the House of Usher - Themes

In Douglas Hofstadter's Gödel, Escher, Bach, there is a narrative between Achilles and the Tortoise (characters borrowed from Lewis Carroll, who in turn borrowed them from Zeno), and within this fiction they find a book entitled "Provocative Adventures of Achilles and the Tortoise Taking Place in Sundry Spots of the Globe", which they begin to read, the Tortoise taking the part of the Tortoise, and Achilles taking the part of Achilles. Within this narrative, which itself is somewhat self-referential, the two characters find a book en ...

See also:

Fictional fictional character, Fictional fictional character - Fictional fictional characters, Fictional fictional character - Frame stories, Fictional fictional character - Fictional artists, Fictional fictional character - Deeply nested fiction, Fictional fictional character - From fiction to reality, Fictional fictional character - Recursion, Fictional fictional character - Examples, Fictional fictional character - Individual characters, Fictional fictional character - Shakespeare, Fictional fictional character - Other examples

Read more here: » Fictional fictional character: Encyclopedia II - Fictional fictional character - Deeply nested fiction

L. Sprague de Camp, in his Lovecraft: A Biography [p.246f], wrote that "[a]ccording to the late [Poe expert] Thomas O. Mabbott, [H.P.] Lovecraft, in 'Supernatural Horror,' solved a problem in the interpretation of Poe" by arguing that "Roderick Usher, his sister Madeline, and the house all shared one common soul". Other writers have claimed that themes of incest and vampirism are suggested in the work. ...

See also:

The Fall of the House of Usher, The Fall of the House of Usher - Synopsis, The Fall of the House of Usher - Themes, The Fall of the House of Usher - References to other works of art, The Fall of the House of Usher - Roderick Usher's library, The Fall of the House of Usher - Criticism and analysis, The Fall of the House of Usher - Film adaptations and influences, The Fall of the House of Usher - List of films

Read more here: » The Fall of the House of Usher: Encyclopedia II - The Fall of the House of Usher - Criticism and analysis

Literature is literally "acquaintance with letters" as in the first sense given in the Oxford English Dictionary (from the Latin littera meaning "an individual written character (letter)"). The term has generally come to identify a collection of texts. The word "literature" as a common noun can refer to any form of writing, such as essays; "Literature" as a proper noun refers to a whole body of literary work, often relating to a specific culture. Literature - Introduction. Nations can have literature ...

Including:

• Literature - Introduction
• Literature - Terminology
• Literature - Forms of literature
• Literature - Poetry
• Literature - Drama
• Literature - Essays
• Literature - Prose fiction
• Literature - Other prose literature
• Literature - Somewhat related narrative forms
• Literature - Genres of literature
• Literature - Literary techniques
• Literature - Literary figures
• Literature - Literature by country language or cultural group
• Literature - Literary criticism
• Literature - Story elements
• Literature - Themes in literature
• Literature - Other

Read more here: » Literature: Encyclopedia - Literature

In the movie, the narrator falls in love with the sickly Madeline much to Roderick's horror. As Roderick reveals, the Usher family has a history of evil and cruelty so great that he and Madeline pledged in their youth never to have children and to allow their family to die with them. When Madeline falls into a deathlike slumber, her brother rushes to have her placed in the family crypt. When she wakes up, Madeline goes insane from being buried alive and breaks free through insanity induced strength. She confronts her brother only to fall dead at his feet. Suddenly the house beg ...

See also:

The Fall of the House of Usher, The Fall of the House of Usher - Synopsis, The Fall of the House of Usher - Themes, The Fall of the House of Usher - References to other works of art, The Fall of the House of Usher - Roderick Usher's library, The Fall of the House of Usher - Criticism and analysis, The Fall of the House of Usher - Film adaptations and influences, The Fall of the House of Usher - List of films

Read more here: » The Fall of the House of Usher: Encyclopedia II - The Fall of the House of Usher - Film adaptations and influences

A related but separate phenomenon from the "story within a story" is the "frame story", where a supplemental story is used to help tell the main story. In the supplemental story, or "frame," one or more characters tell the main story to one or more other characters. A well-known example of this is The Princess Bride, both the book and the movie. In the movie, a grandfather is reading the story of "The Princess Bride" to his grandson. In the book, a more detailed frame story has a father editing a (nonexistent) much longer work for his son, c ...

See also:

Fictional fictional character, Fictional fictional character - Fictional fictional characters, Fictional fictional character - Frame stories, Fictional fictional character - Fictional artists, Fictional fictional character - Deeply nested fiction, Fictional fictional character - From fiction to reality, Fictional fictional character - Recursion, Fictional fictional character - Examples, Fictional fictional character - Individual characters, Fictional fictional character - Shakespeare, Fictional fictional character - Other examples

Read more here: » Fictional fictional character: Encyclopedia II - Fictional fictional character - Frame stories

A plot device is an object, a character or a concept introduced into the story by the author to advance its plot. A literary technique is a technique that allows the author to introduce the necessary plot device into the story. These two terms are often (incorrectly) used to describe the same thing. Plot twist is a very broad term used to describe any unexpected turn of the story that gives a new view on its entire topic. If a plot twist happens at the end of the story, it is called a twist ending (see below ...

See also:

Narratology, Narratology - Forms of Narrative, Narratology - Narrative Techniques, Narratology - Point of View, Narratology - Plot Structure, Narratology - Conflict, Narratology - Dramatic Structure, Narratology - Episodic Media, Narratology - Plot Devices, Narratology - Items, Narratology - Visions, Narratology - Finales, Narratology - Characters, Narratology - Characterization, Narratology - Stock Characters, Narratology - Other Techniques, Narratology - Continuity, Narratology - Setting, Narratology - Setting Techniques, Narratology - Errors and Gaps, Narratology - Genres, Narratology - Rhetoric

Read more here: » Narratology: Encyclopedia II - Narratology - Plot Devices

Continuity is a very important aspect of any story. Per definition, it means the consistency of the characteristics of characters, plot, objects, places and events seen by the reader or the audience. To put it simpler, continuity includes everything about the universe where the story takes place - facts, history, common logic, laws of nature, etc. Ideally, these shouldn't contradict themselves. See also:

Narratology, Narratology - Forms of Narrative, Narratology - Narrative Techniques, Narratology - Point of View, Narratology - Plot Structure, Narratology - Conflict, Narratology - Dramatic Structure, Narratology - Episodic Media, Narratology - Plot Devices, Narratology - Items, Narratology - Visions, Narratology - Finales, Narratology - Characters, Narratology - Characterization, Narratology - Stock Characters, Narratology - Other Techniques, Narratology - Continuity, Narratology - Setting, Narratology - Setting Techniques, Narratology - Errors and Gaps, Narratology - Genres, Narratology - Rhetoric

Read more here: » Narratology: Encyclopedia II - Narratology - Continuity

Any story can be split into several parts, according to the will of author. This is often done out of marketing reasons, but may as well be a literary device used to create a specific structure of the narrative. Common forms are: Single work (e.g. a novel, a short story, a poem, a film, a theater or radio play) is by far the most common used technique, when a story is told in one piece, without splitting it up. Duology or dilogy is a set of two works. It is less common than single stories and trilogies. ...

See also:

Narratology, Narratology - Forms of Narrative, Narratology - Narrative Techniques, Narratology - Point of View, Narratology - Plot Structure, Narratology - Conflict, Narratology - Dramatic Structure, Narratology - Episodic Media, Narratology - Plot Devices, Narratology - Items, Narratology - Visions, Narratology - Finales, Narratology - Characters, Narratology - Characterization, Narratology - Stock Characters, Narratology - Other Techniques, Narratology - Continuity, Narratology - Setting, Narratology - Setting Techniques, Narratology - Errors and Gaps, Narratology - Genres, Narratology - Rhetoric

Read more here: » Narratology: Encyclopedia II - Narratology - Forms of Narrative

When describing a narrative, one of the most important aspects is the point of view from which the story is told. Hence, there are two basic forms of narrative - diegesis and mimesis: the former means telling a story instead of showing a series of events, and the latter - the opposite of that. Simply put, diegesis implies that there is a personified narrator and mimesis - that a story is told by an omniscient incorporeal entity. Another important aspect of a narrative is its syntagmatic structure or "the mode of time-awareness which listeners are placed": simple narrative, epic or ...

See also:

Narratology, Narratology - Forms of Narrative, Narratology - Narrative Techniques, Narratology - Point of View, Narratology - Plot Structure, Narratology - Conflict, Narratology - Dramatic Structure, Narratology - Episodic Media, Narratology - Plot Devices, Narratology - Items, Narratology - Visions, Narratology - Finales, Narratology - Characters, Narratology - Characterization, Narratology - Stock Characters, Narratology - Other Techniques, Narratology - Continuity, Narratology - Setting, Narratology - Setting Techniques, Narratology - Errors and Gaps, Narratology - Genres, Narratology - Rhetoric

Read more here: » Narratology: Encyclopedia II - Narratology - Narrative Techniques

The characters are distinctive personalities who are involved in the events described by the story. One usually differentiates between major (primary) characters and minor (secondary) characters. The former are the heroes of the story around whom the entire plotline evolves while the latter have supporting roles whose function is to provide the main characters with information, material goods, services or whatever t ...

See also:

Narratology, Narratology - Forms of Narrative, Narratology - Narrative Techniques, Narratology - Point of View, Narratology - Plot Structure, Narratology - Conflict, Narratology - Dramatic Structure, Narratology - Episodic Media, Narratology - Plot Devices, Narratology - Items, Narratology - Visions, Narratology - Finales, Narratology - Characters, Narratology - Characterization, Narratology - Stock Characters, Narratology - Other Techniques, Narratology - Continuity, Narratology - Setting, Narratology - Setting Techniques, Narratology - Errors and Gaps, Narratology - Genres, Narratology - Rhetoric

Read more here: » Narratology: Encyclopedia II - Narratology - Characters

"Literature", with emphasis on the uppercase L, is a subset of the more general "literature". "Literature" refers to written work of exceptional intellectual calibre, whereas "literature" can be anything written. Accordingly, War and Peace by Tolstoy is "Literature" (singular) (as well as "literature"). Consequently, a novel by Danielle Steele will be included in "literature" but not in "Literature", since most people would not deem the books to b ...

See also:

Literature, Literature - Introduction, Literature - Terminology, Literature - Forms of literature, Literature - Poetry, Literature - Drama, Literature - Essays, Literature - Prose fiction, Literature - Other prose literature, Literature - Somewhat related narrative forms, Literature - Genres of literature, Literature - Literary techniques, Literature - Literary figures, Literature - Literature by country language or cultural group, Literature - Literary criticism, Literature - Story elements, Literature - Themes in literature, Literature - Other

Read more here: » Literature: Encyclopedia II - Literature - Terminology

The plot (also known as plotline) is the main aspect of any fictional story. It describes a series of events that happens to the characters in a described setting. Ideally, all events should follow logically from each other and be acceptable for the continuity of the story. In larger texts, there are often subplots running simultaneously with the main one. In cinema, a plot is usually presented in the form of a screenplay. A-Plot is the term used for the main plotline that binds all other ones, which doesn't ...

See also:

Narratology, Narratology - Forms of Narrative, Narratology - Narrative Techniques, Narratology - Point of View, Narratology - Plot Structure, Narratology - Conflict, Narratology - Dramatic Structure, Narratology - Episodic Media, Narratology - Plot Devices, Narratology - Items, Narratology - Visions, Narratology - Finales, Narratology - Characters, Narratology - Characterization, Narratology - Stock Characters, Narratology - Other Techniques, Narratology - Continuity, Narratology - Setting, Narratology - Setting Techniques, Narratology - Errors and Gaps, Narratology - Genres, Narratology - Rhetoric

Read more here: » Narratology: Encyclopedia II - Narratology - Plot Structure

Occasionally a story may include within itself a story within a story. This is almost never done of its own accord (though it does happen, as exemplified below), but usually in some other context. For example, plays such as I Hate Hamlet or movies such as A Midwinter's Tale are about a production of Hamlet, which in turn includes a production of The Murder of Gonzago (or The Mouse-trap), so we have a story (The Murder of Gozago) within a story (Hamlet) within a story (A Midwinter's T ...

See also:

Story within a story, Story within a story - Play within a play, Story within a story - Story within a story within a story

Read more here: » Story within a story: Encyclopedia II - Story within a story - Story within a story within a story