fictionalambiguous

Fictionalambiguous is a term used in narrative theory to describe a deliberate blending of fictionality and ambiguity within a work, in which the ontological status of elements—characters, events, or settings—remains unsettled. The phrase is not a fixed theory but a descriptor used by scholars to discuss how some texts encourage readers to question what is real within the story world versus what is a construct of narration.

Core features include persistent indeterminacy about whether aspects of the narrative exist inside the story world or only as a fictional device; multiple frames or narrators that offer conflicting interpretations; and open or symbolic conclusions that resist definitive answers. The concept often aligns with discussions of metafiction and experimental storytelling, but its emphasis is on ontological uncertainty rather than solely on narrative reliability.

Fictionalambiguous can overlap with related approaches while maintaining a distinct focus on the boundaries between reality and fiction. It tends to invite reader interpretation and can broaden or challenge genre expectations by blurring distinctions between realism and fantasy, or between documentary and fiction, manuscript and screen.

Scholars apply the idea to novels, short stories, films, and interactive media that foreground their own fictionality or present events in ways that might be understood as real within the internal world or as allegorical constructs. Critics note that this approach can heighten interpretive engagement but may also frustrate readers seeking clear resolution. Related topics include metafiction, unreliable narration, and ontological uncertainty.