Irony and intertextuality in the historiographic metafiction of the novel "Assassination Attempt on the Imperial Essence" based on Hatchen's theories

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Assistant Professor, Department of Persian Language and Literature, Islamic Azad University, Shahr-e-Quds Branch, Iran

Abstract

Reza Jolaei’s novel The Assassination Attempt on His Majesty’s Life, through its norm-defying language, self-conscious awareness of textual historicity, and extensive use of layers of verbal irony, can be situated within Linda Hutcheon’s theory of “historiographic metafiction”. Emphasizing the representational nature of history in postmodern literature, Hutcheon regards irony as a device that creates a critical distance between narrative and reality. This approach is clearly identifiable in Jolaei’s language, ranging from decorative allusions to constructive irony. This study aimed to examine the functions of verbal irony and intertextuality in this novel and to analyze them from linguistic and narratological perspectives to clarify how fictional and documentary elements are integrated in the reconstruction of historical resistance. Employing a descriptive-analytical method, the study focused on textual evidence, narrative structure, tone, and intertextual references. The findings indicated that Jolaei, through the use of anachronism, the fusion of historical and fictional characters, and the juxtaposition of colloquial language with intertextual imagery, constructs a multilayered and critical narrative that simultaneously challenges history and utilizes the capacities of language to generate new meanings. The novel represents a successful convergence of language and history within the framework of historiographic metafiction, rendering the boundary between fact and fiction fluid and inviting readers to reconsider established narratives of people’s resistance throughout history

Keywords

References

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Journal of Resistance Literature
Volume 18, Issue 34
July 2026
Pages 59-80

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