Met Narration and Its Functions in the Novel in Al-Huna (in Arabic) Talib Al- Rifai

Meta-narration is seen as one of the significant techniques introduced by postmodern novels, as it allows readers to observe the behind-the-scenes of the narrative directly. This technique is clearly employed by Talib Al-Rifai in his novel Fi al-Huna, which addresses several social issues through a perceptive narrative vision and refined artistic tackle. This study aims to analyze Fi al-Huna using the meta-narration technique to clarify the discourses and messages that the author intends to deliver to the reader. It also seeks to highlight the creativity and narrative craftsmanship itself, enabling readers to understand the genuine struggles of creators. The study consists of an introduction, a preface, two chapters, and a conclusion. The introduction includes previous studies, research questions, research problems, reasons for selecting the topic, its significance, methodology, and structure. The preface discusses the concept of meta-narration and introduces Talib Al-Rifai. The first chapter is entitled Meta-narration and Thresholds, while the second chapter is titled Meta-narration and Its Functions in the Novel Fi al-Huna*. The conclusion crowns the study by presenting the main findings and recommendations. The study adopts a narrative- based semiotic approach, applying its principles to examine meta-narration across different narrative elements of the novel. Among the key findings is that meta-narration in this novel produces a polyphonic narrative text, characterized by multiplicity of voices, theses, languages, diverse styles, and ideological perspectives.