Blog 3, Part 2 Metafiction
Jan. 28th, 2012 10:25 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
litbloggerFor the second part of this week's blog, I looked up the definition of metafiction, which Wikipedia defines as "a type of fiction that self-consciously addresses the devices of fiction". It wasn't until I saw some examples of metafictionary works that I became to understand what it meant.
Some examples that were given included The Princess Bride, The Neverending Story, Misery, Secret Window, A Clockwork Orange and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. The first two are considered metafictional because they are stories about readers reading books, the second two are stories about writers creating a story and the last two are stories that contain another work of fiction in itself.
Why would an author write a metafictional story? Considering that the examples above include some of my favourite books or movies, I would say that a metafictional story is appealing to its readers. It adds a second dimension to the story which adds depth and interest. I have enjoyed these metafictional stories so much (both as a child and as an adult) that I am planning to read the many examples of metfictional works listed on Wikepedia that I have not yet read such as Inkheart, The Dark Tower, Steppenwolf, and The Last Unicorn. Perhaps I have even found a name for my favourite style of book.
Some examples that were given included The Princess Bride, The Neverending Story, Misery, Secret Window, A Clockwork Orange and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. The first two are considered metafictional because they are stories about readers reading books, the second two are stories about writers creating a story and the last two are stories that contain another work of fiction in itself.
Why would an author write a metafictional story? Considering that the examples above include some of my favourite books or movies, I would say that a metafictional story is appealing to its readers. It adds a second dimension to the story which adds depth and interest. I have enjoyed these metafictional stories so much (both as a child and as an adult) that I am planning to read the many examples of metfictional works listed on Wikepedia that I have not yet read such as Inkheart, The Dark Tower, Steppenwolf, and The Last Unicorn. Perhaps I have even found a name for my favourite style of book.
