Plot drift, or narrative drift, is a phenomenon in storytelling in which the plot of the story deviates from its apparent initial direction. The phenomenon can affect written works, although it is often more noticeable in performed media such as

television Television (TV) is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. Additionally, the term can refer to a physical television set rather than the medium of transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertising, ...

shows or

movie A film, also known as a movie or motion picture, is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, emotions, or atmosphere through the use of moving images that are generally, sinc ...

s. Plot drift is generally (though not always) seen as contrary to good storytelling technique. A sign of plot drift can be the increased introduction of new characters and settings near the end of a story. Sometimes, a plot drift may be accidental when translating a traditionally oral story to written form. Oral storytelling is inconsistent and various regional, or even familial, differences can cause a plot to shift. A contrary literary technique might include the apparent introduction of plot drift, only to later reveal a connection to the rest of the story. This idea is shown in the epic poem ''

The Odyssey The ''Odyssey'' (; ) is one of two major epics of ancient Greek literature attributed to Homer. It is one of the oldest surviving works of literature and remains popular with modern audiences. Like the ''Iliad'', the ''Odyssey'' is divi ...

'' by

Homer Homer (; , ; possibly born ) was an Ancient Greece, Ancient Greek poet who is credited as the author of the ''Iliad'' and the ''Odyssey'', two epic poems that are foundational works of ancient Greek literature. Despite doubts about his autho ...

. Homer consistently interrupts the narrative to describe the history and story of newly introduced objects or locations before going back to the narrative.

References

Narratology {{popular-culture-stub