ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Metalepsis

So, metalepsis is a big word that means something similar to "going beyond what you're supposed to do."

Have you ever played a game where you were supposed to follow a certain set of rules, but you broke those rules to try to win faster or get ahead? That's kind of like metalepsis!

In movies or stories, metalepsis usually happens when a character starts interacting with the story in a way they're not supposed to, like talking to the narrator or jumping out of the book.

It's like the character is reminding you that you're reading a story and they're a part of it. It's kind of like when your mom is telling you a story, and you interrupt to ask a question about the story, even though you're not supposed to do that.

Sometimes, metalepsis can be really cool and make a story even more interesting. Other times, it can be confusing and make the story hard to follow. But it's a fun word to know, right?
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