Admission Test for Dental Hygiene (ATDH) Practice

What narrative technique involves an interruption to show earlier events?

1. Foreshadowing

2. Hyperbole

3. Flashback

4. Imagery

The correct answer is: Flashback

The narrative technique that involves an interruption to show earlier events is best defined as a flashback. Flashbacks serve to provide background information and context about characters or situations that may shape the current storyline. By revisiting past events, a flashback can help clarify motivations, reveal hidden truths, or deepen the emotional resonance of the narrative. In literature and storytelling, this technique enhances the audience's understanding of the progression of time within the story and the development of its characters. Foreshadowing refers to hints or clues about what will happen later in the story, while hyperbole is an exaggerated statement not meant to be taken literally. Imagery involves the use of descriptive language that appeals to the senses, creating vivid pictures in the reader's mind. Although these techniques are important in storytelling, they do not function to provide insight into past events in the same way that a flashback does.