Example of a flashback in the story “Rules of the Game”

A flashback is a moment when a character remembers and describes an event or events that happened in the past. This literary device helps to give background information about characters in the story; it also shows how a past event may have affected a character. The flashback technique aids characterization, plot development, and creation of conflict in a story.

In “Rules of the Game,” the narrator, Waverly Jong, relates the entire story using the flashback technique. In the excerpt below, the narrator takes the reader back in time to describe the place where she lived in San Francisco:

"We lived on Waverly Place, in a warm, clean, two-bedroom flat that sat above a small Chinese bakery specializing in steamed pastries and dim sum. In the early morning, when the alley was still quiet, I could smell fragrant red beans as they were cooked down to a pasty sweetness. By daybreak, our flat was heavy with the odor of fried sesame balls and sweet curried chicken crescents. From my bed, I would listen as my father got ready for work, then locked the door behind him, one-two-three clicks. "

The use of sensory details gives a very clear picture of the narrator’s home and surroundings. This excerpt shows how the flashback technique helps to provide readers with background information.

(This is the direct sample answer from Edmentum, so just use this answer as an outline.)

- self-esteem and a clear goal for writing

- financial security

- a room to be alone