What is Flashback?

What is Flashback

When you interrupt the story to depict an event from the past.

Flashbacks can:

  • Provide background
  • Develop characters
  • Advance the plot
  • Introduce conflict
  • Build suspense
  • Reveal a character’s emotions and motivation

Examples

  1. The movie Forrest Gump consists of a series of flashbacks.
  2. In the novel Gone Girl, every other chapter is a flashback.
  3. The children’s movie Up features the main character reliving memories of his wife. These help the viewer understand actions not explained through dialogue.

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