Understanding Flashback Functions in Character Development

Very Hard Literary Devices Flashback

In a novel, the use of a flashback serves to reveal crucial aspects of a character's past that significantly influence their current actions and motivations. Consider the following excerpt which employs a flashback to enhance character development:

"As she gazed out the window, the rain tapping softly against the glass, memories flooded back to her from a summer long ago—the laughter of children playing in the meadow, her mother’s warm embrace, and the bittersweet farewell that marked the end of her childhood innocence. In that fleeting moment, she understood why she feared love: it was the ghost of joy that once was, now weighed down by loss."

Based on this excerpt, which of the following statements best identifies the function of the flashback within this context?

It illustrates the theme of nostalgia through the protagonist's longing for a time of innocence.

It provides a contrast between the protagonist’s past happiness and current sorrow.

It serves to foreshadow the tragic events that will unfold later in the narrative.

It reveals the protagonist's initial dreams and aspirations, which remain unfulfilled.

It develops the setting by highlighting the protagonist's connection to her childhood home.

Hint

Submitted5.1K

Correct4.7K

% Correct93%