METALEPTIC Meaning and
Definition
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Metaleptic (adjective) refers to an advanced rhetorical and literary device that involves a form of crossing boundaries or breaking conventions in order to achieve emphasis, resonance, or narrative effects in a work of art, such as literature, film, or music. It goes beyond the traditional techniques of metaphor, simile, or analogy, as it transcends the boundaries between different levels or tiers of meaning.
In metaleptic expressions, the artist or author deliberately blurs the lines between reality and fiction, past and present, or narrator and character, thereby subverting the established narrative structure and challenging the reader or audience to actively engage with the work. The use of metaleptic techniques aims to disrupt the expected flow of the story, generating surprise or creating new layers of interpretation.
Metaleptic elements can manifest in various ways, including self-reflexive narratives, where characters become aware of their fictional nature or interact with the audience, or through the incorporation of elements from other genres or texts within the main narrative. Metalepsis can also occur when an object or concept represents itself and refers outside the confines of the work, blending multiple layers of meaning.
By employing metaleptic devices, artists push the boundaries of traditional storytelling, promoting reflexivity, and questioning the nature of reality and fiction. This technique offers a way to enhance the depth and complexity of a work, while inviting the audience or readers to actively participate in the interpretation of the narrative.
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Pert. to a metalepsis; transverse; transposed.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Common Misspellings for METALEPTIC
- netaleptic
- ketaleptic
- jetaleptic
- mwtaleptic
- mstaleptic
- mdtaleptic
- mrtaleptic
- m4taleptic
- m3taleptic
- meraleptic
- mefaleptic
- megaleptic
- meyaleptic
- me6aleptic
- me5aleptic
- metzleptic
- metsleptic
- metwleptic
- metqleptic
- metakeptic
Etymology of METALEPTIC
The word "metaleptic" is derived from the Ancient Greek term "metalepsis" (μετάληψις). In Greek, "meta" means "a change" or "beyond", and "lepsis" means "taking" or "seizing". So, the word "metalepsis" refers to a change or seizing beyond what is customary or expected. "Metaleptic" is the adjective form of "metalepsis", hence describing something that pertains to or involves metalepsis.
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