The film Inception offers a number of
instances of devices we would call literary devices. Each of these can also be construed
as a cinematic narrative device used in the film's
story-telling.
First, there is the symbolism surrounding
each character’s “totem”. The totem represents something emotional and historical for
each character, while also gaining thematic significance at the end of the film as the
protagonist’s totem, a top, teeters between conclusions. This symbol is given a very
specific surface meaning, but can also be interpreted as a having a deeper meaning
related to the theme of “uncertain reality” which is at the core of the
film.
Inception also utilizes a series
of “frames” or “frame narratives”. This is a literary device commonly used to open and
close stories. Examples of literature using frame narratives would include
Moby Dick, Heart of Darkness and Their Eyes Were Watching
God.
Some other cinematic elements: voice over;
slow motion; color choice to distinguish time settings.
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