Delhistorier

Delhistorier is a term used in Scandinavian literary criticism to describe partial histories or sub-stories that are embedded within a larger narrative. The word combines del- meaning "part" and historie meaning "history," and it is used to refer to discrete narrative units that illuminate the whole without becoming the main plot.

In practice, delhistorier can appear as stories told by characters, episodic vignettes, or parallel plots that share characters or settings with the main narrative. They may be framed by a central storyline or interwoven across chapters or scenes, sometimes with distinct timelines or point-of-view characters.

Delhistorier function to deepen characterization, expand world-building, and explore themes from multiple angles. They can enhance thematic resonance by allowing contrasts or resonances between different partial histories, but they also risk fragmenting the reader's orientation if not integrated carefully.

Related concepts include subplots, side stories, and embedded narratives. In English-language criticism, delhistorier is often described using these terms, while the Scandinavian term highlights the technique of presenting multiple, comparatively self-contained histories within a single work. Notable examples are frame narratives in classic literature or mosaic novels in which several stories intersect within a shared universe.