narrativethrough

Narrativethrough is a term used in literary and media analysis to describe the central throughline—the persistent perspective, theme, or momentum—that carries a narrative from beginning to end. It refers to how a story is experienced by an audience, whether through a single focal character, a particular narration voice, or a guiding thematic question.

Identification of the narrativethrough involves tracing elements that remain coherent across scenes or chapters: the focal character through which events are filtered, recurring aims or conflicts, and the tonal or moral frame that gives unity to the work. It can be characterized as a character-centric throughline, a thematic throughline, or a structural throughline that holds episodes together.

The concept is distinct from plot, which is the sequence of events, and from setting or narration alone. A narrativethrough can exist in non-linear or ensemble narratives, where multiple subplots align to a central throughline. It also informs analyses of point of view, reliability, and audience engagement.

In practice, narrativethrough is used across genres and media, including novels, films, and interactive works. Examples include a novel whose throughline follows a single protagonist’s growth, or a film anchored by a detective’s evolving inquiry. In interactive media, the throughline may adapt to player choices while still delivering a cohesive overarching arc. The term functions as a descriptive tool to examine how coherence and meaning are maintained throughout a narrative.