Hard-to-Google Lit. Crit. Queries...

[steepholm]

Is there a general term for novels (or other fictions) that contain/mention themselves? I mean, the novel is called The Book of Glum, and it's about someone who turns out to be writing or reading a book called The Book of Glum, or we're at least given to know that this is a world where The Book of Glum already exists?

Also, is there decent existing discussion (in journals or elsewhere) of this phenomenon?

Comments

[ven crane (from livejournal.com)]

I'm wondering if there is a TVtropes page for this. (talk amongst yourselves while I go and look at TV Tropes) There is one for the Droste Effect, a picture which contains itself and mise en abyme is mentioned but I can't find a specific page -- it would help if we had come up with a definitive term however.

I started wondering about TV Tropes because I was thinking about "Extras", which is so recursive it makes my head hurt.

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

If you're not back from TV Tropes in a couple of days we'll send out search parties.

[nightspore.livejournal.com]

Indeed!

[karinmollberg.livejournal.com]

Hey! By thinking of Bulgakov I found a repetitive hanky for you! Will only be broadcast this way because I can´t remember where you were on about it. Must now read Berry...