METAFICTION IN CONTEMPORARY ENGLISH LITERATURE: A JOURNEY THROUGH NARRATIVE ARENAS

Metafiction has emerged as a distinctive and dynamic trend in contemporary English literature, challenging conventional storytelling norms through its self-awareness and deliberate manipulation of narrative conventions. This article explores metafictional techniques such as unreliable narration, breaking the fourth wall, and narrative intrusion, which disrupt traditional linear narratives to provoke critical engagement and reflection from readers. It contrasts these techniques with conventional narrative methods like linear progression and omniscient narration, highlighting how metafiction pushes boundaries to redefine the reader-author relationship and explore complex themes. Across genres including novels, plays, and poetry, metafiction serves as both a literary innovation and a tool for cultural critique, offering new perspectives on identity, history, and power dynamics. In the digital age, metafiction continues to evolve through interactive storytelling platforms, challenging traditional notions of authorship and narrative authority. Ultimately, metafiction invites readers on an intellectual journey where storytelling becomes a transformative exploration of truth and imagination.