Metafiction is fiction that is self-referential by drawing attention to its constructed nature. It acknowledges that the story being presented is an imagined work. Examples include an author appearing as a character who can control or remove other characters, as well as stories within stories where the fictional characters are aware they are in a work of fiction. Metafiction explores the relationship between fiction and reality.

1. Metafiction

2. The prefix meta means beyond or
transcending; thus the
term metafiction literally means "beyond
fiction."

3. Metafiction is fiction about fiction.
It is a novel or short story (or
film or play) in which the
author knowingly draws
attention to the fact that it is
being made up.

4. • In stage plays - particularly comic ones - it is
relatively normal to use the metafictional
device of an actor speaking directly to the
audience (or breaking down the "invisible
fourth wall").
• The actor making the aside is deliberately
acknowledging the fact that the story being
told is a fiction being watched on a stage by
an audience.

5. The author appears as a character in his (or her)
novel, using his real name. Not only that, but he
will say to other characters things like: "Hey,
don't get cheeky with me, Sonny. I created you
and I can just as easily remove your character."

6. In other ways, metafiction is a novel about
a reader reading a novel; a work of fiction
within a work of fiction.

7. The Tales of Beedle the Bard which appears in Harry
Potter and Deathly Hallows, is a collection of stories
written for young wizards and witches.

8. It was given to Hermione Granger as a gift
by Prof. Albus Dumbledore.

9. One of the stories in that book was THE TALE OF
THREE BROTHERS and this was read by Hermione
in “The Deathly Hallows” Part I in the house of
Lovegood.

10. The Harry Potter novels are mainly directed at a
young adult audience as opposed to an audience of
middle grade readers, children, or adults.

11. The novels fall within the genre of
fantasy literature, and qualify as a
unique type of fantasy called
• urban fantasy
• contemporary fantasy
• low fantasy".