Analepsit

Analepsit, in narrative theory, refers to occurrences of analepsis (also called flashbacks) presented in the plural form. Analepsis is a device that inserts past events into the middle of a story’s present timeline, moving the narrative backward to reveal background information, past experiences, or motives.

Commonly, analepsit appear as a character’s memory—internal analepsis—where a character recalls a past incident. They can also be external or editorially mediated, where the narrator or a framing device recounts or shows earlier events. The technique contrasts with prolepsis, or flash-forward, which pushes the action forward in time.

Purpose and effects: Analepsit help explain decisions, deepen characterization, or create dramatic irony. They can interrupt or restructure pacing, build suspense, or gradually unveil crucial facts. When used repeatedly or out of sequence, they contribute to a non-linear or layered narrative.

Examples: In literature, Marcel Proust’s In Search of Lost Time features extensive memory recall. In cinema, films like Citizen Kane employ shifting timelines and flashbacks; Memento uses backward structure to reveal past events. In television and comics, a non-linear approach often relies on multiple analepsit to craft the story.

See also: Flashback; Non-linear narrative; Prolepsis.