Novel with author intrusions: to the origins of metanovel

The article deals with the problem of distinguishing novel with author intrusions and metanovel in view of the question about genesis of the latter one. There is hypothesis about connection existing between metanarrative devices in the early novels and the ancient syncretism of author's and character's forms of the representing subject. Conclusion is made that during whole second phase of poetics these devices exist in the form of discrete author intrusions without transforming into the coextensive to the text itself reflection on this same text as an aesthetic integrity, a special world.