handlingslinje

Handlingslinje is a term used in Norwegian, Danish, and Swedish to refer to the main sequence of events that constitutes the plot of a work of fiction or narrative non-fiction. It describes the central narrative thread that guides the actions and decisions of the characters from the setup through the conflict to the resolution. The handlingslinje is distinct from, but often intertwined with, motifs, themes and subplots, which provide depth but may not be essential to the primary causal chain.

In practice, the handlingslinje can be linear, following events in chronological order, or non-linear, using flashbacks, time jumps, or parallel timelines. Screenwriters and authors often outline the handlingslinje as a beat sheet or synopsis, identifying the inciting incident, key turning points, the midpoint, the climax, and the denouement. In television, the term can also describe the overarching storyline that runs across episodes or seasons, alongside episodic handlingslinjer that resolve within a single installment.

The concept is useful for analyses that separate what happens (plot) from how it is presented (narration, perspective) and from why it happens (themes). However, in everyday criticism the term is used interchangeably with "plot" or "narrative arc." Different genres emphasize different aspects of the handlingslinje: thrillers often stress a tight causal chain and suspense, dramas focus on character development along the main line, and comedies rely on reversals within the line.