What is narrative conceit?

Answer 1

It is a device (or series of related devices) that moves the narrative on and provides appeal and promise for the audience, but which also holds interest in and of itself. So, for example, 'time travel' could function as a narrative conceit insofar as it allows for the story to unfold and take on otherwise impossible dimensions, but it also fascinates as an extra-narrative metaphysical concept quite apart from the story per se.