What literary device is used to present action that occurred before the current time in a story?

The correct choice is flashback, which is a literary device that allows the author to present events that have happened in the past and are relevant to the current narrative. By using flashbacks, writers can provide background information about characters, explain their motivations, or create a deeper context for the events unfolding in the present timeline. This technique enriches the storytelling by weaving together past experiences with the current narrative, enabling readers to gain a fuller understanding of the characters and their circumstances.

In contrast, foreshadowing hints at events that will occur later in the story, creating suspense or anticipation but not delving into past events. Exposition refers to the introduction of background information within the narrative, which may include setting, character backgrounds, and historical context, but does not necessarily present past events in the way a flashback does. Chronology involves the arrangement of events in the order they occur and does not specifically address how past events are integrated into the current narrative. Thus, flashback stands out as the device specifically designed to retrieve and present earlier actions relevant to the ongoing story.