Metacommentary: A Research Term

Metacommentary: Etymology, Literal and Conceptual Meanings

Etymology/Term:

The term “metacommentary” derives from the combination of two components: “meta,” meaning beyond or transcending, and “commentary,” referring to explanatory remarks or observations. In literature, metacommentary encompasses self-referential comments made within a narrative that reflect on the storytelling process, guiding readers to interpret or question elements within the text.

Literal Meaning:

• Self-Reflective Remarks: Metacommentary involves explicit commentary or reflections within the narrative that draw attention to the act of storytelling or the elements of the story.
• Authorial Intrusion: Authors may directly address the reader, providing insights into their intentions, choices, or thoughts about the narrative.
• Narrative Reflections: Characters may engage in metacommentary by discussing the events, structure, or themes of the story within the narrative itself.

Conceptual Meaning:

• Enhancing Interpretation: Metacommentary deepens the reader’s understanding by offering additional perspectives, interpretations, or insights into the narrative.
• Questioning Narrativity: It prompts readers to question the nature of storytelling, inviting them to consider the constructed nature of narratives and the role of the author.
• Reader Engagement: Metacommentary can engage readers in a more interactive reading experience, breaking down the traditional boundaries between author and audience.
• Layered Storytelling: It adds layers to the narrative, creating a meta-textual dimension that enriches the overall literary experience.

The combination of its literal and conceptual meanings makes metacommentary a versatile device used by authors to enrich their narratives and engage readers in a reflective exploration of the storytelling process.

Metacommentary: Definition as a Literary Device

Metacommentary is a literary device characterized by self-reflective comments or observations within a narrative, where the author or narrator steps outside the story to provide insights, reflections, or commentary on the unfolding events, characters, or the storytelling process itself. This technique serves to engage readers in a deeper understanding of the text by offering explicit guidance, interpretations, or reflections that transcend the immediate narrative content. Metacommentary often invites readers to reflect on the constructed nature of storytelling, fostering a more interactive and thought-provoking reading experience.

Metacommentary: Examples in Everyday Life

Type of Metacommentary	Definition	Example
Authorial Reflection	Comments made directly by the author about the narrative.	In a novel, the author interrupts the story to reflect on the choices made in character development.
Character Commentary	Characters within the narrative reflect on the story’s events.	A protagonist pauses to ponder the significance of their actions, providing commentary on the unfolding plot.
Narrative Structure	Reflections on the organization or construction of the story.	A narrator discusses the use of flashbacks and their impact on the reader’s understanding of the central conflict.
Reader-Writer Interaction	Direct address or engagement with the reader.	The author speaks directly to the reader, inviting them to question assumptions or anticipate plot twists.
Metafictional Elements	Inclusion of elements acknowledging the fictionality of the narrative.	Characters becoming aware they are in a story or references to the act of writing within the text.
Interpretative Guidance	Authorial comments guiding the reader’s interpretation.	The author provides hints or suggestions on how certain events should be interpreted, influencing the reader’s perspective.

These types of metacommentary showcase the diversity of ways in which authors employ self-reflective elements to enhance the narrative and engage readers in a more interactive and thoughtful reading experience.

Metacommentary in Literature: Examples

1. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes (1605):
   • Cervantes includes a prologue in which he discusses the act of writing and the challenges of creating a compelling story. This metacommentary sets the tone for the novel’s exploration of fiction and reality.
2. If on a winter’s night a traveler by Italo Calvino (1979):
   • Calvino’s novel is a self-aware exploration of reading and storytelling. The author directly addresses the reader, discussing the nature of novels and the expectations readers bring to a book.
3. Pale Fire by Vladimir Nabokov (1962):
   • Nabokov’s novel is presented as a poem written by a character, with a commentary by another character. The commentary serves as a metacommentary, offering conflicting perspectives on the poem and its meaning.
4. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut (1969):
   • Vonnegut uses metacommentary to discuss his own experiences as a soldier in World War II and the challenges of writing about traumatic events. This adds a layer of personal reflection to the novel.
5. House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski (2000):
   • This experimental novel incorporates metacommentary through footnotes, different fonts, and visual elements. The narrator frequently reflects on the process of writing and the impact of the story on the reader.
6. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1925):
   • Fitzgerald’s use of Nick Carraway as a narrator who reflects on his own role in the story provides a subtle form of metacommentary, as Nick comments on the events and characters around him.
7. The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer (14th century):
   • Chaucer’s characters often engage in metacommentary, discussing the nature of storytelling and the intentions behind their tales during the pilgrimage.
8. Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace (1996):
   • Wallace employs footnotes and endnotes extensively to provide additional commentary and insights, creating a complex metacommentary layer that adds depth to the narrative.
9. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood (1985):
   • Atwood uses a framing device where the main narrative is presented as a historical document with a subsequent academic discussion, allowing for metacommentary on the society depicted.

Metacommentary: Main Elements and Examples in Critiques

Element of Metacommentary	Definition	Example in Critique
Authorial Reflection	Comments made by the author reflecting on the writing process.	The critic notes how the author’s introspective comments enhance the reader’s understanding of the narrative choices.
Textual Analysis Commentary	Reflections on the structure, style, or themes within the text.	The critic explores how the author’s commentary on narrative elements deepens the reader’s engagement with the novel’s underlying meanings.
Reader-Writer Interaction	Direct engagement between the author and the anticipated reader.	The critique acknowledges instances where the author directly addresses the reader, inviting them to participate in the interpretive process.
Interpretation Guidance	Author’s guidance on how certain elements should be interpreted.	The critic observes moments where the author explicitly guides readers in understanding specific scenes, characters, or symbolic elements.
Metafictional Elements	Inclusion of elements acknowledging the fictionality of the narrative.	Critique points out instances where the author deliberately blurs the line between fiction and reality, fostering a self-aware narrative.
Narrative Purpose Reflection	Reflection on the author’s intentions behind the narrative choices.	The critic evaluates how the author’s metacommentary provides insights into the overarching purpose and thematic concerns of the work.

These elements and examples illustrate how metacommentary is analyzed in literary critiques, showcasing its role in enhancing the reader’s experience and providing additional layers of meaning within a text.

Metacommentary in Literature: Relevance in Literary Theories

• Reader-Response Theory:
  • Metacommentary engages readers in an active role, prompting them to respond to the author’s reflections and interpretations.
  • The reader’s understanding is shaped not only by the narrative but also by the author’s explicit comments, influencing the overall reading experience.
• Structuralism:
  • Metacommentary can be seen as a structural element, a layer that adds complexity to the overall narrative framework.
  • Structuralist analysis may explore how metacommentary shapes the organization and interpretation of the text.
• Postmodernism:
  • Postmodern literary works often embrace metacommentary, challenging traditional notions of authorship, narrative stability, and reader expectations.
  • The self-awareness of metacommentary aligns with postmodern concerns about the constructed nature of narratives and the blurring of fiction and reality.
• Feminist Criticism:
  • Metacommentary may be examined for gendered perspectives, considering how authors reflect on or challenge traditional gender roles within their narratives.
  • Feminist critics may explore how metacommentary intersects with issues of power, agency, and representation.
• Psychoanalytic Criticism:
  • Metacommentary may provide insights into the author’s subconscious, revealing hidden desires, conflicts, or personal reflections.
  • Psychoanalytic analysis may delve into the psychological dimensions of metacommentary and its impact on the narrative.
• Postcolonial Criticism:
  • In postcolonial literature, metacommentary may be explored for its reflections on cultural identity, colonial history, and the act of storytelling as a form of resistance.
  • Postcolonial theorists may examine how metacommentary intersects with issues of language, representation, and cultural agency.
• New Criticism:
  • Metacommentary can be examined as part of the text’s internal dynamics, analyzing how it contributes to the overall meaning and coherence of the literary work.
  • New Critics may explore the interplay between metacommentary and other textual elements to uncover hidden layers of significance.
• Deconstruction:
  • Deconstructionist analysis may focus on the instability of meaning within metacommentary, questioning how these self-reflective elements contribute to the text’s openness to multiple interpretations.
  • The deconstructionist lens may emphasize the play of language and the subversion of conventional literary norms within metacommentary.
• Marxist Criticism:
  • Metacommentary may be examined for its reflections on societal structures, power dynamics, and class relations within the narrative.
  • Marxist critics may explore how metacommentary engages with or challenges dominant ideologies and social norms.
• Cultural Studies:
  • Metacommentary is relevant to cultural studies as it reflects the author’s engagement with cultural discourses, norms, and values.
  • Cultural studies may explore how metacommentary contributes to the negotiation and representation of cultural identities within literature.

Metacommentary in Literature: Relevant Terms

Term	Definition
Authorial Reflection	Comments made by the author about the narrative or writing process.
Textual Analysis Commentary	Reflections on the structure, style, or themes within the text.
Reader-Writer Interaction	Direct engagement between the author and the anticipated reader.
Interpretation Guidance	Author’s guidance on how certain elements should be interpreted.
Metafictional Elements	Inclusion of elements acknowledging the fictionality of the narrative.
Narrative Purpose Reflection	Reflection on the author’s intentions behind the narrative choices.
Introspective Discourse	Reflective language or dialogue within the narrative.
Reflective Narrator	A narrator who explicitly reflects on the events of the story.
Intratextual Commentary	Comments or reflections embedded within the text itself.
Self-Aware Storytelling	Narration that acknowledges its own constructed nature.

Metacommentary in Literature: Suggested Readings

1. Atwood, Margaret. The Handmaid’s Tale. Houghton Mifflin, 1985.
2. Calvino, Italo. If on a winter’s night a traveler. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1979.
3. Cervantes, Miguel de. Don Quixote. Publisher, 1605.
4. Chaucer, Geoffrey. The Canterbury Tales. Publisher, 14th century.
5. Danielewski, Mark Z. House of Leaves. Pantheon, 2000.
6. Eagleton, Terry. Literary Theory: An Introduction. Wiley, 1983.
7. Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. Scribner, 1925.
8. Nabokov, Vladimir. Pale Fire. Publisher, 1962.
9. Richter, David H. The Critical Tradition: Classic Texts and Contemporary Trends. Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2007.
10. Tyson, Lois. Critical Theory Today: A User-Friendly Guide. Routledge, 2006.
11. Vonnegut, Kurt. Slaughterhouse-Five. Delacorte Press, 1969.
12. Wallace, David Foster. Infinite Jest. Little, Brown and Company, 1996.