# File lib/maruku/element.rb, line 51
    def initialize(node_type = :unset, children = [], meta = {}, al = nil)
      self.children = children
      self.node_type = node_type
      self.attributes = {}

      # Define a new accessor on the singleton class for this instance
      # for each metadata key
      meta.each do |symbol, value|
        class << self
          self
        end.send(:attr_accessor, symbol)

        self.send("#{symbol}=", value)
      end

      self.al = al || AttributeList.new
      self.meta_priv = meta
    end