Title:
BEYOND THE GRAVE: METAFICTIONAL EXPLORATION IN BARTHLEME’S THE DEAD FATHER

Authors:
Assist. Lect. Ridha’a Ali J., Iraq

Abstract:
This abstract explores the idea of metafiction in Donald Barthelme’s novel The Dead Father. Metafiction, a literary device that draws upon the devices of real storytelling, is an important tool in Barthelme’s work, providing a narrative layer that questions the nature and meaningfulness of storytelling with myth and modernity mix, juxtaposing traditional narratives with postmodern techniques. Barthelme's use of metaphor highlights the artificial nature of narrative structures and the flexibility of truth. Through paragraphs, intertextual references, and direct commentary on the act of writing, Barthelme confounds readers’ expectations and negotiates the relationship between fiction and reality. This study examines, in detail, how The Dead Father exemplify novel strategies. The novel is not only entertaining one, however, it invites readers to consider the contradictions and possibilities of the storytelling.