metalepsis Definition
a figure of speech in which a word or phrase from figurative speech is used in a new context, leading to a self-referentiality and blurring the boundaries between reality and fiction.
Using metalepsis: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "metalepsis" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
In the movie 'Adaptation', the use of metalepsis is evident when the main character writes himself into the screenplay.
Example
The novel 'The French Lieutenant's Woman' uses metalepsis to blur the line between the author and the narrator.
Summary: metalepsis in Brief
Metalepsis [məˈtæləpsɪs] is a figure of speech that involves using a word or phrase from figurative speech in a new context, creating a self-referentiality that blurs the boundaries between reality and fiction. Examples of metalepsis can be found in literature and film, such as when a character writes themselves into a screenplay or when the author and narrator become blurred.
