Mise en abyme

Mural incorporating an image of the Hagia Sophia on a wall inside the actual Hagia Sophia

Mise en abyme (French pronunciation: [miz‿ɑ̃n‿abim]; also mise en abîme) is a term originally from the French and means "placed into abyss".

Droste Effect

Also knows as the "Droste Effect" from its popularisation on the packaging of the Dutch brand of Droste cocoa powder showing a recursive image of a nurse holding a tray on which is another package of Droste.

Hamlet Example

Shakespeare's Hamlet is a literal example of a mise-en-abyme with the play including a troupe of performers staging plays within the play.

This device has been used in other plays such as the British play ‘The Dresser’ by Ronald Harwood which revolves around a Shakespearean troupe during WW2 who are putting on a season of King Lear (not Hamlet).