Chekhov's Gun

Chekhov's gun is a narrative principle emphasizing that every element in a story should be necessary, while irrelevant elements should be removed. For example, if a gun is included in a story, there must be a reason for it, such as being fired at some later point. The principle that all elements must eventually come into play over the course of the story is recorded, with some variation, in several letters by Anton Chekhov, as advice for young playwrights.