Intrigue vs. trame

In French, 'intrigue' and 'trame' are two terms often used to describe aspects of a story or plot. Although they can be similar, they have different nuances that set them apart.

Intrigue

'Intrigue' refers to the complex series of events, especially those driven by conflicting interests or mysterious elements, that form the main story in a novel, play, film, etc.
L'intrigue principale du roman tourne autour du mystère de la disparition de l'héroïne.
(The main plot of the novel revolves around the mystery of the heroine's disappearance.)
L'intrigue de ce film policier est tellement compliquée qu'il faut le regarder plusieurs fois pour comprendre tous les détails.
(The plot of this detective movie is so complicated that you need to watch it multiple times to understand all the details.)

Trame

'Trame' generally describes the underlying structure or framework of a story. It refers to how the narrative is woven together rather than the specific events or conflicts.
La trame du livre explore la lutte entre le bien et le mal à travers les siècles.
(The book's plot explores the struggle between good and evil over the centuries.)
Malgré les nombreuses intrigues secondaires, la trame générale du film reste facile à suivre.
(Despite its many subplots, the film's overall plot remains easy to follow.)

Summary

'Intrigue' and 'trame' are both related to storytelling. However, they differ in their focus. 'Intrigue' refers to the complex sequence of events or plot of the story, especially those involving mystery or conflict. 'Trame', on the other hand, refers to the underlying framework of the story, or how it's woven together.