Classification of Metafictional Features: Focusing on Short Circuit and Exposing the Literary Technique

Metafiction is a postmodern story writing technique that has many complexities due to its predisposing features. Theoreticians, such as David Lodge and Brian McHale, have identified these features, but until now, no classifications have been provided. Due to the widespread and scattered features of metafiction features, there exists some overlaps between them that impede understanding the application of each. In this article, as the first step, metafiction and theories about this story writing technique have been investigated. Afterward, the most important element, that is, the short circuit, is reviewed, and, by through reasoning, a new division is introduced, which also includes exposing the literary technique. This feature, previously described as independent, is categorized in this paper as part of the short circuit. In addition, some of metafiction's features such as metafiction naming are identified and defined. This feature, despite the importance, has not been previously mentioned as a metafictional feature.