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A frame story,
(also known as a frame tale, frame narrative, sandwich narrative, or intercalation) is a literary technique that serves as a companion piece to a story within a story, where an introductory or main narrative sets the stage either for a more emphasized second narrative or for a set of shorter stories. [1]
The frame story leads readers from a first story into one or more other stories within it. The frame story may also be used to inform readers about aspects of the secondary narrative(s) that may otherwise be hard to understand. This should not be confused with narrative structure, which is rather a comprehensive way of unifying element narratives.
A notable example is The Decameron, because the main story sets the stage for smaller stories.
Here is how they managed to do it:
Main Frame Narrative: The overarching story involves a group of ten young people who flee from the Black Death in Florence to a secluded villa. To pass the time, they decide to tell each other stories.
Individual Tales: Each character narrates their own story, leading to a variety of themes and genres, including love, wit, and morality. These tales are diverse and reflect the characters' personalities and experiences
Connection to the Frame: The individual stories are interconnected through the common situation of the characters and their shared goal of entertainment and distraction from the plague.
Thematic Unity: Despite the differences in the individual tales, the frame story provides a cohesive context, exploring human nature and societal issues. [2][5]
This structure allows our author, Boccaccio, to explore various narratives while commenting on the human condition in a time of crisis.
Written by: Wanda Ďurišová, 527639
Sources:
Wikipedia contributors. (2024a, August 16). Frame story. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frame_story [1]
Kieffer, K. (2024, May 18). Five ways to frame your story — Well-Storied. Well-Storied. https://www.well-storied.com/blog/5-ways-to-frame-your-story [2]
Wikipedia contributors. (2024b, September 22). Story structure. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Story_structure#cite_note-1 [3]
Wikipedia contributors. (2024b, September 18). The Decameron. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Decameron [4]
Decameron Web | Literature. (n.d.-b). https://www.brown.edu/Departments/Italian_Studies/dweb/literature/theory/frame.php [5]
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