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Summary Of Linda Hutcheon's Metafiction

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3.2.2 Metafiction

The definition of Metafiction according to Linda Hutcheon reads as follows: “‘Metafiction’ […] is fiction about fiction – that is, fiction that includes within itself a commentary on its own narrative and/ or linguistic identity.” (Hutcheon 1) Based on this definition there is no doubt that Scott added a metafictional layer to Benang.
Metafiction looms large in Kim Scott’s novel. Through requesting from the reader to reflect on what he or she is reading, Scott manages to move the focus from his fictional text to the disputed narratives, better known as history. Many novels that are analysed by academics under the aspect of metafiction feature a more obvious delineation between the fictive world presented in the plot and the …show more content…

At the same time there is a hint towards a dimension that has been left out in this narrative but would be important in order to obtain a thorough account. Concerning the shifting requirements of readers Linda Hutcheon states that the contemporary reader is the crucial point of transferring the text into something that is alive. (Cf. Hutcheon 39) According to her the novel has lost it’s role as a medium which provides “an order and meaning to be recognized by the reader.” Instead it is now allowed, even demanded, that a reader is conscious of the process of writing a novel and the construction of the story. (Cf. Hutcheon 39) Benang is a good example of an author’s attempt to ensure that the reader is doing exactly that. Scott lets his narrator comment on the effort it takes for the reader to follow the narration in Benang: “I appreciate your concern, and that you remain with this shifty, snaking narrative. I am grateful; more grateful than you know, believe me.” (22) Having stated that relatively close to the beginning of the story, the reader continues his reading with a raised consciousness of the structure behind the words. With the comment on page 165 the narrator’s account is pejoratively called clumsy and seemingly exposed to an external force that has the power to disturb the

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