Intercalary chapter


An intercalary chapter is a chapter in a novel or novella that is relevant to the theme, but does not involve the main characters or further the plot. Intercalary chapters often take the form of vignettes that offer a broader or alternative perspective to the experiences of the main character. They can also be used to provide social and historical background that can't be easily interwoven into the narrative chapters.

Examples

The following novels make use of intercalary chapters:American Gods by Neil GaimanCry, the Beloved Country by Alan PatonThe Grapes of Wrath, by John SteinbeckThe Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le GuinMoby-Dick; or, The Whale by Herman MelvilleTom Jones by Henry FieldingWar and Peace by Leo TolstoyThe Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley RobinsonChronicle in Stone by Ismail KadareThe Black Book by Orhan PamukLes Misérables by Victor Hugo The Waves by Virginia Woolf