English

Adjective

metadiegetic ‎(comparative more metadiegetic, superlative most metadiegetic)

1. (narratology) Pertaining to a secondary narrative embedded within the primary narrative (a story within a story).
   • 1995, Dunne, Michael, Hawthorne’s Narrative Strategies, page 87:

     A particularly striking example appears in Hawthorne's next romance, The House of the Seven Gables, in which Chapter 13 consists entirely of a metadiegetic narrative entitled "Alice Pyncheon," composed and read by the diegetic character Holgrave.

   • 2004, Halfyard, Janet K., Danny Elfman's Batman: A Film Score Guide, page 108:

     The diegetic and metadiegetic aspects of the Joker's use of music also persist. Prince's "Trust" features diegetically in the festival parade as the Joker rides on his birthday-cake float, while the Straussian waltz reappears metadiegetically in the in the cue "Waltz," for the battle between Batman and the Joker's henchman as the Joker waltzes with a semiconscious Vicki in the background. This, and his comment, "shall we dance?" to Batman just before the cue starts again positions this as music that the Joker has control cover: it is more than simply heard in his head.

   • 2005, Van Sijll, Jennifer, “Sound Effects”, in Cinematic Storytelling, ISBN 9781615930029, page 90:

     Sound effects are often enlisted to externalize a characters' inner thoughts, nightmares, hallucinations, dreams, or wishes. We might hear, for example, the laughter of a child as a woman picks up a doll from childhood. This gives the scene a surreal feeling. This effect is often called meta-diegetic.

Usage notes

The secondary narrative can be a story told by a character within the main story or it can take the form of a dream, nightmare, hallucination, imaginary or other fantasy element.

Synonyms

• hypodiegetic