Which genre did the metafiction in the history of Western literature belong to? What did it refer to?
In the history of Western literature,"metafiction" usually referred to a novel form that lacked the plot and structure of traditional novels but had an independent story unit and theme in the first or third person narrative perspective. Metafiction originated in France in the early 20th century and was widely developed and applied in western countries. It is usually narrated in first or third person. Each story unit is an independent plot that usually includes dialogue, description, and action scenes. The theme and plot of a metanovel often reflected the personal experiences, emotions, and psychological state of the author or reader in a very personal way. Metafiction is usually regarded as a form of modern fiction, and its writing method is different from traditional novels. Compared with traditional novels, metafiction was more flexible and could better display the author's imagination and creativity. At the same time, metafiction has a higher literary value because it can better reflect the psychological state and emotional experience of the author or reader.