METAFICTION IN FOCUS: TRAITS, FEATURES, AND LITERARY SIGNIFICANCE
Abstract
This article explores the defining features and key characteristics of the metafiction genre. Metafiction is a self-conscious literary style in which the narrator or characters are aware that they are part of a work of fiction. Often most closely associated with postmodern prose, metafiction involves a departure from standard narrative conventions, in which a self-aware narrator infuses their perspective into the text to create a fictional work that comments on fiction. This kind of fictional writing can appear in novels, short stories, plays, video games, film, and television. The article analyzes the main elements of metafiction, its purposes, and its significance in modern and postmodern literature.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Narrative Theory and Analysis
Contemporary Literature and Criticism
Literary Theory and Cultural Hermeneutics
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
- Publication date
- 15 January 2026