Question

Which sentences in this excerpt from John Barth's "Lost in the Funhouse" show the postmodern element of self-reflexivity?

Answer 1

Answer: The sentences in this excerpt from John Barth's "Lost in the Funhouse" that show the postmodern element of self-reflexivity are 3) Initials, blanks, or both were often substituted for proper names in nineteenth century fiction to enhance the illusion of reality and 4) Interestingly, as with other aspects of realism, it is an illusion that is being enhanced, by purely artificial means.

Explanation: Self-reflexivity is a recurring element in postmodern literature. Self-reflexivity consists in including passages or statements which aim to reflect about the language itself and the process of writing. In that way, it functions as a literary device and it focuses on dealing with the manners of composition. In sentence 3, the author makes reference to literary strategies of the nineteenth century and, in sentence 4, he alludes to the writing process of realist writers.