Embedded Files
UK /ˌek.spəˈzɪʃ.ən/ US /ˌek.spəˈzɪʃ.ən/
DEFINITON
DEFINITON
(according to Cambridge Dictionary)
Exposition in a written work is the passages which explain where events take place, what happened before the story begins, and the background of the characters.
Exposition or presentation of the initial situation is a crucial part of the plot. The traditional linear plot line has these four parts:
Exposition
Complication or conflict
Climax or turning point
Resolution
(Basic Literary Terms)
As we can see, exposition is the first part of a plot. It's purpose is to provide background information about the characters, the story's setting, plot events and narrative.
There are many methods to convey exposition. The most common ones being narration, dialogue and internal monologue. (Exposition - Examples and Definition of Exposition.)
Examples:
Examples:
As was discussed previously, in most books exposition comes first so it's fairly easy to recognise. The most prominent examples of exposition can be found in fables and fairy tales. In these genres exposition is crutial, it's so their unusual characters make sense and the fantastical plots have meaning. (Exposition - Examples and Definition of Exposition.)
Cinderella: The readers find out that Cinderella is good and kind. Unlike her sisters.
"Once there was a gentleman who married, for his second wife, the proudest and most haughty woman that was ever seen. She had, by a former husband, two daughters of her own, who were, indeed, exactly like her in all things. He had likewise, by another wife, a young daughter, but of unparalleled goodness and sweetness of temper, which she took from her mother, who was the best creature in the world."
(Cinderella, Rumpelstiltskin, and Other Stories)
The tortoise and the hare: The exposition reveals that the hare is overconfident in winning the race.
"A Hare was making fun of the Tortoise one day for being so slow. "Do you ever get anywhere?" he asked with a mocking laugh."
(Aesop for Children)
Sources:
Sources:
Siegel, Kristi. “Basic Literary Terms.” Basic Literary Terms - Narrative, www.kristisiegel.com/basic.htm. Accessed 18 Oct. 2023.
“Exposition.” Cambridge Dictionary, dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/exposition. Accessed 18 Oct. 2023.
LiteraryDevices Editors. “Exposition - Examples and Definition of Exposition.” Literary Devices, 25 Oct. 2021, literarydevices.net/exposition/.
Perrault, Charles. Cinderella, Rumpelstiltskin, and Other Stories. Tantor Media, Inc, 2008.
AESOP. Aesop for Children. SELTZER BOOKS, 2018.
Klarer, Mario. An Introduction to Literary Studies. Second ed., Routledge, 2004.
Made by: Štěpán Ondroušek (549586)
Page updated
Report abuse