Narrative Techniques: Flashbacks, Frame Narratives, and Dream Structures

Vocabulary flashcards covering key narrative concepts referenced in the notes: flashbacks, frame narratives, nonlinear storytelling, multiple perspectives, dream layers, Inception, and historical conflicts.

Flashback

A scene that moves the story back in time to show events that happened earlier.

Frame narrative (present-day frame)

A narrative device where the main story is introduced or enclosed by a present-day scene that leads into earlier events.

Nonlinear narrative

A storytelling structure that does not follow a straight chronological order, often using flashbacks or multiple timelines.

Multiple perspectives

Telling the story from the viewpoints of more than one character.

Perspective shift

Changing the point of view between scenes or sections, sometimes revisiting the same moment from different angles.

Dream within a dream

A layered dream scenario in which one dream contains another dream inside it.

Inception (2010)

A science fiction film about dream manipulation and layered dream worlds, popular for the dream-within-a-dream concept.

Indian Wars

A series of conflicts between Native American tribes and European settlers or the United States government.