Narrative exposition, or simply
exposition, is the insertion of important background information within a
story; for example, information about the
setting, characters'
backstories, prior plot events, historical context, etc. In a specifically literary context, exposition appears in the form of
expository writing embedded within the narrative. Exposition is one of four
rhetorical modes (also known as
modes of discourse), along with
description,
argumentation, and
narration, as elucidated by
Alexander Bain and John Genung. Each of the rhetorical modes is present in a variety of forms, and each has its own purpose and
conventions. There are several ways to accomplish exposition.