Metafiction in John Barth Giles Goat-Boy
Ammar Hashim Saleh
Department of English, College of Education for Humanities, University of Mosul
DOI: https://doi.org/10.25130/Lang.8.11.8
Keywords: intertextuality, metafiction, parody, unreliable narration
Abstract
The current study attempts to investigate the concept of metafiction in John Barth Giles Goat-Boy. It tries to explore how Barth’s novel challenges traditional storytelling and promotes a more engaged and critical reading experience. The research employs parody as a form of intertextuality, in conjunction with unreliable narration, to critically examine Barth’s blurring of the distinctions between fiction and reality, ultimately obscuring the borders between the two and encouraging readers to actively interact with the story as a deliberately produced, self-referential piece of art. Barth’s deliberate blurring of the lines between fact and fiction pushes readers to critically examine the essence of storytelling while offering insights into present-day social and cultural matters. His integration of mythical themes and irony and his self-reflective commentary on the creative process are also studied as essential strategies.
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