Final answer:
Chekhov's gun is a dramatic principle ensuring every story element is necessary and contributes to the plot, like mentioning a gun early on to be used later, creating tension and foreshadowing.
Step-by-step explanation:
The principle you're referring to is commonly known as Chekhov's gun, which is a dramatic principle that states that every element in a story must be necessary, and irrelevant elements should be removed. This concept posits that elements introduced into a story must be used later, imparting a sense of payoff for the reader. Hence, if a gun is mentioned in a novel, the expectation is that it will play a significant role in the narrative at a later point. Anton Chekhov, a Russian playwright and short-story writer, famously stated that if a gun is described early in the story, it must be fired later on. This concept helps to create tension and foreshadowing in literature.
For example, in a novel where a gun is pointed out in an early chapter, readers will anticipate its use in a pivotal scene, possibly during the climax of the storyline. This focus on pertinent details reinforces the interconnectedness of the narrative and adds depth to the plot, aligning with Garrison's thesis that significant elements in textual evidence should contribute to the story's development.