Exposition definition is - a setting forth of the meaning or purpose (as of a writing). Read through the first few paragraphs or pages where the author gives a description of the setting and the mood before the action takes place. ThoughtCo. Narrative exposition is the insertion of background information within a story or narrative.This information can be about the setting, characters' backstories, prior plot events, historical context, etc. All good exposition is disguised by making it dramatic – by injecting conflict. We can also derive background information from a conversation that takes place between two characters, such as this dialogue from the classic fairy tale of "Little Red Riding Hood:". These conventions demand that a perfect tragedy have one setting, along with action in real time. We also get a feeling of responsibility; Hansel wants to protect his sister from the fear of the unknown and protect her from whatever is in the dark forest. We can pick up a lot of information about the characters in this story, just by witnessing the conversation between mother and child. Exposition is necessary as an aid to the understanding of the facts from which the story action departs. Grace Fleming, M.Ed., is a senior academic advisor at Georgia Southern University, where she helps students improve their academic performance and develop good study skills. 7 Young Adult Novels That Encourage Discussions on Racism, "No Exit" by Jean-Paul Sartre Summary of Characters and Themes, 5 Easy Summarizing Strategies for Students, What Are the Parts of a Short Story? Exposition is a device used in television programs, films, literature, poetry, plays and even music. Dramatic structure is an idea, originating in Aristotle’s Poetics, that effective stories can be broken down into elements, usually including exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution, and that when writers are constructing a story they should include these five elements. In some books, for example, you may find that exposition takes place through flashbacks that a character experiences. The example above shows one way to provide background information for a story, but authors can also present information without stating the situation outright, as with understanding the thoughts of the main character. Das bedeutet, dass dem Adressaten (Zuschauer, Leser, Hörer) die Grundstimmung, Ausgangssituation, Konflikte und Zustände erläutert werden sowie Informationen über den Ort, die Zeit und die Personen des Werkes gegeben werden. (2020, August 28). In the story of "Cinderella," the exposition goes something like this: This passage sets the stage for the action to come, alluding to the notion that Ella's happy life might be about to change for the worse. Exposition is a literary device used to introduce background information about events, settings, characters, or other elements of a work to the audience or readers. 2. In plays, dramatic exposition is usually found in the opening scenes and can be expressed through character dialogue, flashbacks, thoughts or the narrator giving background. Fleming, Grace. Denouement In dramatic structure, the exposition occurs at the beginning of the story and is meant to set up the inciting incident, which is a moment where the action kicks off in the story. We can also predict that something is about to occur and that event will most likely involve that big bad wolf. In summary, Rising action includes all of the plot point after the exposition and before the climax. Define rising action in literature: the definition of rising action is the period in a story after the introduction that builds to the climax. Inciting Incident 3. The definition of an exposition is a public show of art, cars or any other sort of product. Exposition definition: An exposition of an idea or theory is a detailed explanation or account of it. What Are Enrichment Activities and What Are Their Benefits? What Are Academic Strengths? It is not a part of the dramatic story but simply an explanation to the audience. A strong exposition evokes feelings and emotion within the reader. Exposition is a literary term that refers to the part of a story that sets the stage for the drama to follow: it introduces the theme, setting, characters, and circumstances at the story’s beginnings. The "six" was a typo. In the top left of the flag there is a field of blue with fifty stars, one for each state. Climax 6. The word exposition comes from the Latin word exponere, which means to put out, exhibit, or explain. ‘Now the ghost, in the role of prompter, gives the necessary background exposition and the initial orders to … In composition, the purpose of exposition is to explain something, and you see it when characters reveal facts about place, setting, and plot involvement. Crisis 5. Dramatic exposition is a literary device used to introduce important information about a story's setting, the characters and the initial conflict of the plot. E.M Forster perceives “The king died and then the queen died” as a story while “the king died and then the queen died of grief” as a plot. An example of exposition is a fair where people get to taste cheeses from around the world. Act One generally introduces the characters and sets up the problem for the play. Exposition works when it’s a tool a character uses to achieve their desire. Example: The U.S. flag consists of thirteen alternating stripes of red and blue, representing the 13 original states. From Sculpture to 3D Paintings and Drawings: What Is Three-Dimensional Art? Fleming, Grace. This passage from "Hansel and Gretel" shows exposition from Hansel's own thoughts and actions: In the example above, we understand the background of the story because the main character is thinking about their circumstances. In literature, exposition appears in the form of expository writing embedded within the narrative. Exposition is a literary device that is meant to relay background information about a main character, setting, event or other element of the narrative. ThoughtCo, Aug. 28, 2020, thoughtco.com/what-is-exposition-1857641. Rising Action/Progressive Complications 4. The exposition/introduction presents the setting (time and place), characters (protagonist – hero/heroine, antagonist – villain), and the basic conflict; it also establishes the mood or atmosphere of the story. It may include elements of narration , description , and argumentation . "One of the tricks is to have the exposition conveyed in a scene of conflict, so that a character is forced to sway things you want the audience to know. "Understanding Exposition in Literature." See more. While the story might be set in the main character's current and somewhat stable life, their flashbacks give vital information that sets the scene for something that might be an internal struggle that will surface within the remainder of the story. We get a feeling of despair coming from multiple occurrences, including the mother kicking the children out and the fact that Hansel's breadcrumbs are running out. Exposition Definition Exposition (EK-spuh-ZI-shuhn) is a writing technique that discloses details about events, settings, or characters. The first dramatic arc enables the reader to know more about the circumstances and the relationship of the characters with each other. Freytag's plot structure, or dramatic arc, is designed to describe the components of a five-act play. 3. Find 64 ways to say exposition, along with antonyms, related words, and example sentences at Thesaurus.com, the world's most trusted free thesaurus. Here’s a quick and simple definition:Some additional key details about exposition: 1. Writers can introduce exposition into a story in a variety of ways, but it appears across all genres and styles of storytelling. 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. How to use exposition in a sentence. Dramatic exposition is a literary device used to introduce important information about a story's setting, the characters and the initial conflict of the plot. It is the writer's way to give background information to the … Exposition is crucial to setting the stage, as it provides readers with essential background information like character backstories, past plot points, and historical context. An example of dramatic exposition can be found in the opening scene of Shakespeare's "Othello" when the audience overhears the villain of the play, Iago, trying to recruit the character Roderigo to join his plot to destroy Othello. Thanks for the catch — we've since amended the post. https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-exposition-1857641 (accessed March 17, 2021). A brief look at the important details of EXPOSITION in a plot structure. "Understanding Exposition in Literature." Exposition 2. Understanding Exposition in Literature. The German play writer Gustav Freytag defined these five parts, in order of appearance, as exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution. (Journalism & Publishing) a systematic, usually written statement about, commentary on, or explanation of a specific subject 2. the act of expounding or setting forth information or a viewpoint 3. ‘The exposition of this symphony, for example, is usually taken as singing pure and simple.’ 1.2 The part of a play or work of fiction in which the background to the main conflict is introduced. ‘The exposition contains a first theme in two parts, transition, two secondary themes, and a 19-bar closing section.’ ‘His measured, lyrical exposition of the movement's second theme seemed to touch the very soul of the music.’ Think of exposition as “ Desire, in story structure, should always be countered by an opposite desire, and this in turn creates the conflict the drama needs. Rising action is where characters and conflict are developed. Peripeteia/reversal: reversal of fortune for the protagonist--from failure to success or success to failure. (How to Write Them), What Is Composition? Academic Strengths List & Examples, VisitBritain/Britain on View/Britain On View/Getty Images. This is where you give important information that will give your reader better insight and help to move your story forward. Fleming, Grace. In composition studies, expository writing (also called exposition) is one of the four traditional modes of discourse. Living Trusts Versus Living Wills: Which One Is Right for You? According to E.M Forster, a plot is a relationship between cause and effect event in a story. 4. In plays, dramatic exposition is usually found in the opening scenes and can be expressed through character dialogue, flashbacks, thoughts or the narrator giving background. At The Write Practice, we talk about the six elements that make up dramatic structure. Two kinds of exposition are at work in Sophocles' "Antigone," both created by the Greek theater's dramatic unities. To understand what exposition is, look at how the writer sets the scene for the story and the characters within it. It has been used widely since the middle of the 18th century (the early Classical period).. What is exposition? The exposition is the beginning of a story, where the characters, setting, and problem are introduced. You get both a feeling for Ella's sense of unease and the father's desire to provide for his daughter, but are left wondering what will happen. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-exposition-1857641. Sonata form (also sonata-allegro form or first movement form) is a musical structure consisting of three main sections: an exposition, a development, and a recapitulation. Als Exposition wird im Drama teils auch in Romanen die wirkungsvolle Einführung des Zuschauers oder des Lesers bezeichnet. They are: 1. The individual pieces of background information that writers use to create exposition are known as expository details. 1. Dramatic exposition makes up one part of the five-part structure of the dramatic arc of a play. The exposition ends with the inciting incident, the point at which the action begins and the complication (or rising action in a drama) begins. Exposition definition, a large-scale public exhibition or show, as of art or manufactured products: an exposition of 19th-century paintings; an automobile exposition.