diegesis

/ˌdaɪəˈdʒisɪs/

Other forms: diegeses

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.

Definitions of diegesis

1. noun

   the use of a narrator to explain events or information in a story
   type of:

   plot

   the story that is told as in a novel, play, movie, etc.
2. noun

   reality as it exists inside a narrative, especially in film, including the people, events, settings, sounds, etc., that the characters can experience or interact with