Flashback — Definition and Examples
What is a flashback?
A flashback is a literary device that occurs when an author depicts an event that has taken place before the current time of the narration. Flashbacks interrupt the chronological order of the text to depict an earlier event relevant to the present or future. Authors incorporate flashbacks through the recitation of past narratives, depictions of dreams, or portrayals of memories.
Ultimately, an author's use of a flashback creates the background to the present conflict, person, or place. Authors may also use flash-forwards in novels or short stories to show events occurring later in the story.
Why do writers use flashbacks?
The use of flashbacks typically aids in character development, creates character connections, explains the current conflict, and/or establishes realism.
Character development: By using flashbacks, authors can provide background information on their characters. This helps the reader understand the characters’ motivations and behavior. Providing these insights as flashbacks allows the reader to watch character growth or decline.
Create character connections: The effective use of a flashback provides a deeper insight into the characters. The more information an author provides on the backstory of the characters, the more the readers will be able to sympathize or empathize with their present story, allowing the text to have a personal impact.
Explain the conflict: Understanding what led to the characters’ situation helps develop a better understanding of the conflict and adds depth.
Establish realism: Considering that people in the real world are a compilation of their past events, authors create characters in the same way through flashbacks. A rich backstory makes characters more realistic to readers.
Flashback examples
Examples of flashback scenes are found in many literary works including The Odyssey, The Outsiders, and The Great Gatsby:
The Odyssey by Homer: When Odysseus washes up on the Phaeacians’ shores, he reveals everything that happened to him after winning the Trojan War and his journey to return home to Ithaca in a series of flashbacks.
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton: When the author introduces Johnny, Hinton indicates that he always carries a knife. Through a flashback, the author reveals that Johnny was beaten up in the past, providing insight into why he possessed the knife.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald: Nick Carraway, Fitzgerald’s narrator, uses flashbacks to detail parts of Jay Gatsby’s past, such as how he made his money and that he changed his name to impress Daisy, his love interest.