explicit plot line; overt narrative thread
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesnoun
explicit plot line; overt narrative thread
technicalIn literary theory, this term contrasts with 暗线 (hidden thread). It refers to the surface-level storyline that is clearly visible and directly narrated, as opposed to subtextual or implicit plot developments.
Zhè这
bù部
xiǎo小
shuō说
de的
míng明
xiàn线
shì是
zhǔ主
rén人
gōng公
de的
chéng成
zhǎng长
jīng经
lì历
，
àn暗
xiàn线
zé则
shì是
tā他
yǔ与
fù父
qīn亲
de的
guān关
xi系
。
The explicit plot line of this novel is the protagonist's coming-of-age journey, while the hidden thread is his relationship with his father.
Fēn分
xī析
xù叙
shì事
jié结
gòu构
shí时
，
shǒu首
xiān先
yào要
fēn分
qīng清
nǎ哪
xiē些
shì是
míng明
xiàn线
，
nǎ哪
xiē些
shì是
àn暗
xiàn线
。
When analyzing narrative structure, one must first distinguish between the explicit plot lines and the hidden threads.
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Zuò作
zhě者
tōng通
guò过
duō多
tiáo条
míng明
xiàn线
bìng并
xíng行
de的
fāng方
shì式
，
zhǎn展
xiàn现
le了
fù复
zá杂
de的
shè社
huì会
tú图
jǐng景
。
The author presents a complex social panorama through multiple parallel explicit plot lines.
Yǔ与
fú伏
àn案
gòu构
sī思
de的
àn暗
xiàn线
bù不
tóng同
，
míng明
xiàn线
wǎng往
wǎng往
zhí直
jiē接
tuī推
dòng动
qíng情
jié节
fā发
zhǎn展
。
Unlike the hidden threads of伏笔 (foreshadowing), the explicit plot line often directly drives the plot forward.