Ορισμός και Σημασία του "Chekhov's gun"

What is "Chekhov's gun"?

Chekhov's gun is a principle in storytelling that states if a writer includes an element, such as an object or detail, early in the story, it should be relevant later on. The idea is that every part of a story should serve a purpose and contribute to the plot or theme. For example, if a character mentions a mysterious key early in a story, that key should eventually play a significant role in the narrative. This concept ensures that all elements in a story are meaningful and not merely included for decoration.