Lost in the Funhouse Outline
Outline
I. Introduction
A. Define terms – metafiction (fiction about fiction), postmodernism (a reworking or subversion of past conventions)
B. Present major arguments
C. State thesis – In writing a story about the writing of a story, Barth has created a classic work of metafiction.
II. Definition and defiance of convention – Barth defines many of the conventions of storytelling and then immediately proceeds to defy them.
A. Calls attention to conventions
B. Subversion of Plot Convention – Abandons traditional narrative structure and chronology for a disjointed collage of experiences.
C. Subversion of Authorial Convention – Confusion of the author/protagonist distinction
III. The Funhouse as metaphor – The funhouse as a place of fun or fear & confusion is a metaphor which functions on at least two important levels.
A. Metaphor for story-writing
B. Metaphor for story-reading
C. Metaphor for adolescence and sexuality
V. Conclusion – restate thesis and concluding remarks
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