Metafiction

Definition

Metafiction is a type of fiction that self-consciously addresses the devices of fiction, often blurring the boundaries between fiction and reality. This narrative technique invites readers to reflect on the nature of storytelling, questioning the conventions and assumptions of traditional narratives. It serves as a way to explore the relationship between the author, text, and reader, often revealing the artifice behind the narrative.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Metafiction often uses techniques such as unreliable narrators, self-reference, and playful language to engage readers in questioning the nature of storytelling.
2. In urban fantasy, metafiction can intertwine elements of real-world settings with fantastical elements, prompting readers to reconsider their perceptions of both realms.
3. Authors like Italo Calvino and Jorge Luis Borges are noted for their metafictional works that challenge traditional storytelling conventions.
4. Metafiction encourages readers to think critically about how narratives shape their understanding of reality and genre conventions.
5. The rise of digital media has expanded metafictional possibilities, allowing for interactive narratives where readers can participate in shaping the story.

Review Questions

• How does metafiction challenge traditional narrative conventions in urban fantasy?
  • Metafiction challenges traditional narrative conventions in urban fantasy by blending fantastical elements with self-reflexive commentary on storytelling. This allows authors to create layers of meaning, prompting readers to question what is real within the narrative and how genre expectations influence their interpretations. By breaking the fourth wall or using unreliable narrators, these works can subvert expectations and offer a richer reading experience.
• Discuss how metafiction can be used as a tool for deconstruction in myth analysis.
  • Metafiction serves as an effective tool for deconstruction in myth analysis by revealing the constructed nature of myths and narratives. It encourages readers to examine the underlying assumptions and cultural contexts that shape these stories. By drawing attention to their own fictionality, metafictional works highlight how myths are not just timeless truths but are instead subject to interpretation, change, and critique. This process can lead to a deeper understanding of how myths function within society.
• Evaluate the impact of metafiction on readers' engagement with stories in both urban fantasy and myth-making contexts.
  • Metafiction significantly impacts readers' engagement by fostering an active participation in interpreting stories. In urban fantasy, it prompts readers to navigate between reality and fantasy while questioning their beliefs about both realms. In myth-making contexts, metafiction highlights how myths are not fixed but fluid constructs that can be reimagined. This dual engagement allows readers to critically assess not only the content but also the form of narratives, leading to richer discussions about meaning and interpretation across various genres.

Related terms

intertextuality: The relationship between texts and how they refer to or influence one another, emphasizing that all texts are interconnected.

postmodernism: A broad movement in literature and art characterized by a skeptical, self-aware approach that questions established narratives and conventions.

narrative structure:

The organized way in which a story is presented to the reader, including the sequence of events, point of view, and overall framework.