Which term refers to the interruption in a narrative to show past events?

• A. Foreshadowing
• B. Flashback
• C. Allusion
• D. Propaganda

Answer: (B)

A flashback is a moment where the story jumps back to something that happened earlier, letting you see past events to understand a character’s actions or feelings in the present. It interrupts the current scene to provide backstory, memory, or context that explains why things are the way they are now. This is different from foreshadowing, which hints at what will happen later rather than revealing past events. An allusion would be a quick reference to something outside the story, and propaganda is biased messaging used to persuade, not a narrative backstory device. For example, a present scene might pause for a memory of a childhood accident that helps explain the character’s fear—this is a flashback.