StructureIntermediate
Frame Narrative
An outer story contains and shapes an inner one.
Principle
The frame interprets the tale; the tale repays the frame.
Takeaways
- The frame establishes who is telling, to whom, and why.
- Choices in the frame change the meaning of the inner story.
- Returning to the frame at the close gives the reader an exit.
Overview
A frame narrative wraps an inner story inside another — a told story, a manuscript discovered, a deathbed confession. The framing layer affects reliability, distance, and interpretation.
Examples
- A storyteller recounts a tale to a stranger on a train.
- A novel presents itself as a found memoir with editorial intrusions.
- A character recalls events from old age, knowing how they ended.