Stories within stories. It’s a technique as old as storytelling itself, a way to layer narratives, create depth, and offer unique perspectives. This technique is known as a Frame Story. Let’s explore this fascinating literary device, its mechanics, and how authors use it to enrich their work.
What is a Frame Story?
A Frame Story, also sometimes called a story within a story, is a literary technique where a secondary story is set within the context of a main, encompassing story. Think of it like a picture frame. The frame holds the picture, giving it context and shaping how we see it. In a frame story, the outer story (the frame) introduces the inner story (the framed narrative).
The Basic Structure
Most frame stories follow this pattern:
- The Frame: This is the opening and closing section of the story. It sets the scene, introduces the narrator, and establishes the circumstances under which the inner story is told.
- The Framed Story (or Stories): This is the main narrative embedded within the frame. It’s often told by a character within the frame, and can be a significant portion of the overall work.
- Return to the Frame: The story eventually returns to the frame, offering a resolution or reflection on the inner story.
Simple Examples of Frame Story
Imagine someone telling a friend a dream they had. The conversation about the dream is the frame, and the dream itself is the framed story. Or, think of a grandfather recounting a tale from his youth to his grandchildren. The interaction with the grandchildren is the frame, while the story of his youth is the framed narrative.
Why Use a Frame Story?
Authors employ frame stories for several reasons:
- Adding Layers of Meaning: The frame can offer a commentary on the inner story, providing context and influencing how the reader interprets events.
- Creating Distance or Perspective: A frame can distance the reader from the main story, allowing for a more objective or critical reading.
- Introducing Reliability Issues: The frame narrator can be unreliable, casting doubt on the truthfulness of the inner story.
- Expanding Scope: A frame allows an author to include multiple stories within a single work, creating a richer and more complex narrative.
In-Depth Examples of Frame Story
Let’s look at some classic and modern examples to see how frame stories work in practice.
One Thousand and One Nights (Arabian Nights)
Perhaps the most famous example! The frame is the story of Shahryar, a king who, after discovering his wife’s infidelity, vows to marry a new woman each night and execute her the following morning. Scheherazade, to save herself and the women of the kingdom, begins telling the king a story each night, leaving it unfinished to entice him to spare her life for one more night. Each tale Scheherazade tells is a framed story – a story within the larger story of Scheherazade and the king. The collection contains numerous framed narratives, like “Aladdin” or “Sinbad the Sailor”, each embedded within the overarching frame.
The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer
Chaucer’s masterpiece uses a pilgrimage to Canterbury Cathedral as its frame. A group of pilgrims is traveling together, and the host proposes that each pilgrim tells stories to entertain the group. Each tale told by a pilgrim is a framed story. The frame provides a social context for the stories, and Chaucer uses the pilgrims’ individual personalities and social standing to shape the stories they tell and comment on medieval society. The overall effect is a vibrant tapestry of narratives, each adding to the understanding of the period and human nature.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Frankenstein is a compelling example of a layered frame story. The primary frame consists of Robert Walton’s letters to his sister, detailing his Arctic expedition. Within this frame, Walton recounts Victor Frankenstein’s story, which is itself a framed narrative. Within Victor’s tale, the Creature tells his own story to Victor. This triple layering creates a complex structure and allows Shelley to explore themes of ambition, responsibility, and the consequences of unchecked scientific pursuit from multiple perspectives. The framing also introduces questions of narrative reliability – we are several layers removed from the events themselves, relying on interpretations passed down through multiple narrators.
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
Brontë uses the framing device of Mr. Lockwood, a tenant at Thrushcross Grange, to hear the story of Heathcliff and Catherine from Nelly Dean. Lockwood acts as the primary narrator of the central story, and he periodically interjects with his own observations and reflections. The frame allows Brontë to create a sense of distance and mystery, and also to explore the subjective nature of memory and storytelling.
The Princess Bride by William Goldman
Goldman playfully employs a frame story to present a supposedly abridged version of a classic tale. The frame consists of a grandfather reading the story to his sick grandson. The grandfather often interrupts the narrative to comment on the story, offering his opinions and providing background information. This frame creates a meta-narrative, drawing attention to the act of storytelling itself and blurring the lines between fiction and reality.
Variations and Modern Uses
While the traditional frame story features a clear outer and inner narrative, modern authors often experiment with more complex structures. Some stories employ multiple frames, nested within each other. Others use fragmented or unreliable frames to create a sense of disorientation or uncertainty.
Frame stories continue to be a popular technique in contemporary literature, film, and television. They offer a versatile and engaging way to explore complex themes, create compelling characters, and challenge our assumptions about storytelling.
Ultimately, the frame story is a powerful literary device that allows authors to add depth, nuance, and complexity to their work. By understanding its mechanics and exploring its various applications, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the art of storytelling.