Louis, Mr. Dog and Rabbit: Metalepsis in Interactive Narrative

The author proposes a hypothesis that metalepsis by the narratee into the diegetic level of the story and therefore into the intradiegetic narratee position is a major ingredient in what makes some interactive narratives compelling, and that the move into this position is unconscious and a function of the porosity between narrative layers that interaction can engender in narrative. He illustrates his proposition with a storytelling ritual that is played out between a six year old child and himself.