Do Flashbacks Work in Literature?
Every few days, working on my new novel, my thoughts flash back to something Colm Tóibín said at the Hay-on-Wye literary festival nine months ago: that flashbacks are infuriating. Speaking at an event to celebrate the two hundredth anniversary of Jane Austen’s death, Tóibín said Austen was marvelous because she was able to convey character and plot in the most satisfying way without the “clumsiness” of the flashback. Today, on the other hand, we have to hear how a character’s parents and even grandparents met and married. Writers skip back and forth in time filling in the gaps in their shaky stories. It is dull and incompetent.
Is Tóibín right? I worry, as I prepare to put together a flashback myself. Is there no merit or sense in the device? Didn’t Joyce use it? And Faulkner? Or David Lodge, for that matter? Or John Updike? Or going back before Austen, Laurence Sterne? In which case, can there really be, as Tóibín appears to suggest, an association between the flashback and “our unhappy age”?
Certainly, use of the flashback is widespread an
Ever wondered how authors and filmmakers use flashbacks to enrich their stories?
This article uncovers 13 unforgettable flashback examples from literature, movies, and TV shows.
Discover how these moments provide crucial backstory, enhance character depth, and create emotional impact, transforming the narrative into a more compelling experience.
Dive into these iconic flashbacks to see storytelling at its finest.
1. Flashback Examples in Classic Literature
Classic literature offers some of the most poignant flashback moments that enrich their narratives.
&#;To Kill a Mockingbird&#; by Harper Lee
- Scout&#;s Childhood Memories: Scout Finch’s flashbacks in &#;To Kill a Mockingbird&#; to her childhood are central to understanding her character and the social dynamics in Maycomb.
- Impact on Plot: These flashbacks offer crucial insights into her father, Atticus Finch, and the racially charged atmosphere of the town.
&#;Wuthering Heights&#; by Emily Brontë
- Nelly Dean’s Recounting: Through Nelly Dean’s flashbacks in &#;Wuthering Heights&#;, readers learn about the intense love and conflict between Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw.
- Depth
These flashback stories contain at least one flashback, but usually have several. Many of these stories with flashbacks are well known, but I hope you find something new here too.
Stories with Flashbacks
“A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner
A Southern spinster, Emily Grierson, has died. She had been a recluse, so the townspeople are curious about her and her house. The narrator recounts episodes from her life.
This story can be read in the preview of A Rose for Emily and Other Stories. (18% in)
“The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber” by Ernest Hemingway
The Macombers are an American couple on an African safari. They have a guide, Wilson, a professional hunter, who will lead their outing. It is revealed that Francis had panicked in an earlier hunt when a wounded lion charged at him.
This is the first story in the preview of The Complete Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway.
“The Snows of Kilimanjaro” by Ernest Hemingway
On the African savannah, a man’s leg is rotting with gangrene. His wife tries to comfort and encourage him. As he waits for death, he thinks about his life.
This story can also be read in the above preview of The Complete Short Stories of Ernest He
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