metafiction
1 of 1nouna literary genre that uses self-reflexive techniques to draw attention to its status as a work of fiction, blurring the lines between reality and fiction
C2Learn more on WikipediaMetafiction is a genre of literature that self-consciously addresses the nature of fiction and storytelling. It often involves stories that reflect on their own creation or acknowledge their fictional status. In metafiction, characters may be aware they are in a story, or the narrative might directly comment on the process of writing and storytelling. This genre plays with traditional boundaries between fiction and reality, often blurring the lines to challenge readers' perceptions of what is real and what is imagined. Metafiction can offer a commentary on literary conventions and the act of reading itself.
- The novel employed metafiction, blurring the lines between fiction and reality by having the characters acknowledge their existence as creations of the author.
- In the film, the protagonist's realization that they are a character in a story is a clever example of metafiction, inviting viewers to question the nature of storytelling itself.
- The playwright's use of metafiction allowed the characters to break the fourth wall, addressing the audience directly and commenting on the events unfolding onstage.
- The novel's self-referential narrative style is a hallmark of metafiction, inviting readers to reflect on the act of reading and the role of the author.
- Through metafiction, the author explored themes of authorship, narrative structure, and the relationship between fiction and reality, challenging readers to think critically about the nature of storytelling.