In writing, framing often refers to using a framing device. A framing device is a literary tool that very often wraps your main story with a shorter, secondary story. These two stories are linked and influence each other.
Understanding the Framing Device
Think of a picture frame. The frame surrounds and highlights the main picture. Similarly, a framing device surrounds the main narrative, providing context, introducing characters, or setting a specific tone or perspective. The shorter, secondary story acts as the "frame" for the longer, central "picture" which is the main plot.
How Framing Works
The relationship between the frame story and the main story is crucial. They don't just exist side-by-side; they are connected and feed into each other. The frame story might:
- Introduce the narrator or listener of the main story.
- Explain how the main story was discovered (e.g., finding an old diary).
- Provide a present-day perspective on events from the past.
- Create suspense or curiosity before the main narrative begins.
- Offer commentary or reflection after the main story concludes.
The structure typically involves starting with the frame, transitioning to the main story, and then returning to the frame at the end.
Key Characteristics
Here are some key aspects of framing devices in writing:
- Two Stories: There is always a distinct frame story and a distinct main story.
- Hierarchy: The frame story is usually shorter and serves to present or contextualize the main story.
- Interconnected: The stories are linked; the frame isn't just tacked on but has a purpose related to the core narrative.
- Purposeful: Framing is used intentionally by writers to achieve specific effects, such as adding layers of meaning, establishing credibility, or controlling pacing.
For example, a common framing device is having a character recount a long tale (the main story) to an audience (the frame story). The beginning and end involve the character and audience in the present, while the bulk of the text is the story being told about past events.
Using framing effectively allows novelists and other writers to add depth and complexity to their work, offering different perspectives or adding layers of meaning beyond the simple progression of the main plot.
