diegesis

American  

[dahy-uh-jee-sis] / ˌdaɪ əˈdʒi sɪs /

noun

plural

diegeses

1. the telling of a story by a narrator who summarizes events in the plot and comments on the conversations, thoughts, etc., of the characters.

2. the sphere or world in which these narrated events and other elements occur.

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Other Word Forms

• diegetic adjective

Etymology

Origin of diegesis

First recorded in 1800–10; from Greek diēgēsis “a narrative,” derivative of diēgeisthai “to describe, narrate,” from dia- “passing through, thoroughly” ( see dia-) + hēgeîsthai “to guide”

Explanation

In literature, diegesis refers to telling a story through a narrator, as opposed to showing it through action and dialogue. In film, diegesis is the internal reality in which the story takes place. The most straightforward, original meaning of diegesis relates to the telling of a story by a narrator, as opposed to mimesis, which refers to showing a story through the actions and words of the characters. Today, diegesis more commonly refers to the internal world of a story, especially a film. It includes the characters, the setting, the events, the sounds, and even the laws of physics that govern that world. It's the story world as it exists for the characters: Music the characters can hear is part of a movie's diegesis, but a song playing during the end credits is not.

Example Sentences

Enter Hobbs and Shaw, a spinoff pairing two fan-favorite antagonists from the primary diegesis and sending them off on an odd-couple adventure all their own.

From The Guardian • Aug. 5, 2019

When Strine has stopped time in the diegesis of the novel, but is still narrating his thoughts to you, as the reader, something very weird is going on.

From The Guardian • Oct. 20, 2010