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'{{About|the literary device|"back-stories" of consumer goods|Back-story (production)|the book by [[David Mitchell (comedian)|David Mitchell]]|David Mitchell: Back Story}} A '''backstory''', '''background story''', '''back-story''', or '''background''' is a set of events invented for a [[Plot (narrative)|plot]], presented as preceding and leading up to that plot. It is a [[literary device]] of a [[narrative history]] all chronologically earlier than the narrative of primary interest. In [[acting]], it is the history of the [[character (arts)|character]] before the drama begins, and is created during the actor's preparation. It is the history of characters and other elements that underlie the situation existing at the main narrative's start. Even a purely historical work selectively reveals backstory to the audience.<ref>[http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backstory Backstory at Merriam Webster online]</ref><ref>[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/backstory Backstory at Dictionary.com]</ref> ==Usage<!--'Main story' redirects here-->== As a [[literary device]], backstory is often employed to lend depth or believability to the '''main story'''<!--boldface per WP:R#PLA-->. The usefulness of having a [[Discovery (fiction)|dramatic revelation]] was recognized by [[Aristotle]], in [[Poetics (Aristotle)|''Poetics'']]. Backstories are usually revealed, partially or in full, chronologically or otherwise, as the main narrative unfolds. However, a story creator may also create portions of a backstory or even an entire backstory that is solely for their own use.<ref> [http://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/2009/08/backstory-importance-of-what-isnt-told.html Backstory: The Importance of What Isn't Told]</ref> Backstory may be revealed by various means, including [[Flashback (narrative)|flashback]]s, [[dialogue]], [[Narrative|direct narration]], [[:wikt:summary|summary]], [[recollection]], and [[Exposition (literary technique)|exposition]]. The original ''[[Star Wars (film) | Star Wars]]'' movie and its first two [[sequels]] are examples of a work with a preconceived backstory, which was later released as the "prequel" second set of three movies. == Recollection == [[Recollection]] is the [[Fiction-writing modes|fiction-writing mode]] whereby a character calls something to mind, or remembers it. A character's memory plays a role for conveying backstory, as it allows a fiction-writer to bring forth information from earlier in the story or from before the beginning of the story. Although recollection is not widely recognized as a distinct fiction-writing mode, recollection is commonly used by authors of fiction. For example, Orson Scott Card observes that "If it's a memory the character could have called to mind at any point, having her think about it just in time to make a key decision may seem like an implausible coincidence . . . ." Furthermore, "If the memory is going to prompt a present decision, then the memory in turn must have been prompted by a recent event."<ref>Card, Orson Scott (1988), "Character & Viewpoint", p. 113. Cincinnati, OH: Writer's Digest Books. {{ISBN|0-89879-307-6}}.</ref> == Shared universe == In a [[shared universe]] more than one author may shape the same backstory. The later creation of a backstory that conflicts with a previously written main story may require the adjustment device known as [[retroactive continuity]], informally known as ass ==Acting== Actors may create their own backstories for characters, going beyond the sometimes meager information in a script. Filling in details helps an actor interpret the script and create fully imagined characters.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Homan |first1=Sidney |last2=Rhinehart |first2=Brian |title=Comedy Acting for Theatre: The Art and Craft of Performing in Comedies |date=2018 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |isbn=9781350012783 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oMVIDwAAQBAJ&dq=backstory+acting&source=gbs_navlinks_s |accessdate=26 November 2018 |chapter=3}}</ref> == See also == * [[Characterization]] * [[Flashback (narrative)]] * [[Origin story]] * [[Prequel]] == References == {{reflist}} {{Narrative modes}} [[Category:Continuity (fiction)]] [[Category:Literary techniques]] [[Category:Non-fiction]] [[Category:Plot (narrative)]] [[Category:Acting]]'