Final answer:
Flashbacks in literature serve as a plot device to connect past events to the current narrative, offering deep insights into characters and themes. Authors use time-stamps, changes in tense, or symbolic images to navigate nonlinear narratives and enhance story depth. Flashbacks also encourage readers to consider the ongoing relevance of historical events in present contexts.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Thomas King's work, flashbacks are used as a plot device to connect the past events to the current narrative of the story. These flashbacks not only provide a deeper understanding of the characters' motivations and backgrounds but also help in building a narrative that resonates with the reader by making connections to real-world issues or themes. Using flashbacks effectively requires clear indicators such as changes in tense, time-stamps, or symbolic images to ensure the reader follows the nonlinear narrative without confusion. For instance, narrative shifts, as demonstrated in Virginia Woolf's writing, subtly moves from a character's internal thoughts to direct speech, showcasing a kind of temporal transition. Similarly, in works like "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" by Ambrose Bierce or Dickens's introduction in "Great Expectations," the interplay between past and present enhances the story's depth, often leaving readers with a richer, more complex understanding of the plot and characters in question.
Furthermore, flashbacks can serve as a literary tool to highlight the relevance of history in contemporary issues, as seen in the 'The Past Meets the Present' feature boxes. Through these flashbacks, authors invite readers to reflect upon historical events' pertinence in today's world, which can lead to a more engaged and reflective reading experience. The episodic plot used in some narratives, which is rich with flashbacks and flash-forwards, can be used to lay down hints for future plot developments or to elaborate on intricate character backstories.