border terminology

Question 1

What does borderland mean

Answer 1

territory at or near a border

Question 2

border

Answer 2

a line that has been agreed to divide one country from another

Question 3

borderscapes

Answer 3

Literally: the landscapes surrounding borders.
In a literary sense:
The scholars contend:
“We use the concept ‘borderscapes’ to emphasize the inherent contestability of
the meaning of the border between belonging and non-belonging”

Identity aspects are essential for the definition of
borderscapes. The masking function of the border is echoed again in this innovative concept: “The term borderscape reminds one of the specter of other
senses of the border, of experiences, economies, and politics that are concealed”
Movement and action are parameters of this
new spatial construct: “The borderscape is thus not a static space” (. Bordering, belonging, and becoming are related to this
conceptualization.

Question 4

landed immigrant

Answer 4

In Canada, the newly arriving refugees are granted landed immigrant status, the first major step toward citizenship, essentially a recidence permit, and will have access to free child and adult education, social welfare, health care, and housing.

Question 5

What does the term ‘Canadian literature in English’ mean?

Answer 5

The term “Canadian Literature in English” refers to that which is written in what is now
territorially Canada or written by Canadians abroad (

Question 6

What is metafiction?

Answer 6

Metafiction is a form of fiction that emphasizes its own narrative structure in a way that inherently reminds the audience that they are reading or viewing a fictional work.

Question 7

What is historiograpic metafiction

Answer 7

Historiographic metafiction is a term coined by Linda Hutcheon to describe a specific genre of postmodern literature that combines elements of historical writing with self-aware, self-reflective narrative techniques. These works are both “historiographic” (concerned with the writing of history) and “metafictional” (aware of their own fictional nature).

Question 8

Key Characteristics of Historiographic Metafiction:

Answer 8

Blurring Fact and Fiction:

Historiographic metafiction blends real historical events, figures, and settings with invented characters, events, and perspectives.
It challenges the idea that history is an objective recounting of facts by showing how historical narratives are constructed, subjective, and shaped by power dynamics.

Self-Reflexivity:
These works are self-conscious about their status as fiction. They draw attention to their own narrative techniques, making readers aware that they are engaging with a constructed story, not an absolute truth.

Critique of Historical Objectivity:

The genre critiques the traditional notion of history as a singular, authoritative narrative.**
It highlights the partial, biased, and selective nature of historical records and challenges the assumption that historical “truth” can ever be fully known.
Playfulness and Parody:

Historiographic metafiction often uses humor, parody, and irony to question historical “facts” or reimagine historical figures and events.
This playfulness serves to unsettle grand narratives and dominant ideologies.
Rewriting History from Marginalized Perspectives:

Many works of historiographic metafiction aim to give voice to perspectives excluded or silenced in official histories, such as those of women, colonized peoples, or other marginalized groups.
Ambiguity:

These works intentionally leave readers in doubt about what is true or fictional, reflecting the complexity and uncertainty of history itself.