Framing devices

Definition

Framing devices are narrative techniques used to set the context for a story, often by providing a structure that surrounds the main narrative. These devices create a lens through which readers can interpret the story, enhancing their understanding and engagement. By establishing a perspective or mood, framing devices help to guide the audience's interpretation and emotional response to the content.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Framing devices can take many forms, including prologues, epilogues, and even character narration that contextualizes the main story.
2. They help to create a sense of cohesion within a narrative, making it easier for readers to understand how different parts of the story relate to each other.
3. Framing devices can enhance emotional resonance by preparing readers for themes and conflicts before they occur in the main narrative.
4. These devices are often used in epic and saga storytelling to create layers of meaning, where the outer frame influences the interpretation of the inner story.
5. Framing devices can also serve as a commentary on societal issues, using the structure of the narrative to highlight themes like power dynamics or morality.

Review Questions

• How do framing devices influence a reader's understanding of a narrative?
  • Framing devices shape a reader's interpretation by establishing context and mood before diving into the main story. They act as a lens through which readers can view characters and events, highlighting important themes and guiding emotional responses. By providing background information or setting expectations, these devices enhance overall engagement with the narrative.
• In what ways can prologues serve as effective framing devices in epic tales?
  • Prologues can set up essential context for epic tales by introducing key themes, characters, or historical backgrounds that are crucial for understanding the main story. They can also create suspense or foreshadowing, preparing readers for upcoming conflicts or resolutions. By establishing this groundwork, prologues help readers connect with the epic's larger narrative arc and emotional stakes.
• Evaluate how framing devices can reflect societal issues within a story's context.
  • Framing devices can serve as powerful tools for commenting on societal issues by positioning the main narrative within a broader context. For example, when a story is framed by a narrator who represents an oppressed group, it can highlight themes of power dynamics and injustice. This reflective quality allows readers to critically engage with both the characters' journeys and the societal structures influencing those journeys, thereby deepening their understanding of the narrative's implications.

Related terms

Metanarrative: A narrative that self-consciously comments on the nature of storytelling, often questioning the reliability or authority of narratives.

Prologue: An introductory section of a literary work that provides background information or sets the stage for the main story.

Epilogue: A concluding section of a literary work that reflects on the events of the main narrative and often offers insights into the future of the characters.