Which two Taylor Swift songs complete the fictional story begun in “august”?

Taylor Swift’s “Cardigan” and “Betty” complete the fictional story begun in “august.”

The three songs form a connected love triangle on Folklore. “august” follows an unnamed girl who experiences a short summer romance with James. “Cardigan” tells Betty’s side of the story, while “Betty” presents James’s perspective and his attempt to address the consequences of his actions.

Swift designed Folklore around imagined characters and narratives, making this trilogy different from songs that listeners interpret primarily through the details of her personal life. The three tracks use different voices and emotional angles to revisit the same relationship.

“willow” is sometimes grouped with the trilogy because it is another Swift song about romantic relationships, but it belongs to Evermore, not the Folklore triangle. “Exile” is also on Folklore, yet it is a separate duet with Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon.