Final answer:
An anachronism is when a character or event is placed outside its proper time sequence, differing from flashbacks used in storytelling to provide context or a background to the narrative.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term for placing a character or event outside its proper time sequence in literature is called an anachronism. An anachronism occurs when a historical element is put in a time where it doesn't belong, which can sometimes be done intentionally by an author for a specific effect. It differs from a flashback, which is a plot device where the narrative moves back in time within the chronological flow of a story to provide background or context to the current situation. Examples of using anachronism might include placing modern technology in a story set in the past or having historical figures interact in a time period before they were alive.
Flashbacks are used to enhance the narrative, such as in 'An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge' by Ambrose Bierce, where the protagonist's past is revealed amid the tension of the present. The use of an episodic plot, which includes flashbacks and possibly flash-forwards, allows more complex narratives and storytelling, creating engagement and emotional connections to the story. Exposition is the storytelling element that sets the scene, introducing characters, and hinting at future themes and conflicts that will develop throughout the story; it's distinctly different from a flashback or an anachronism.