"Intertextuality is the shaping of a text's meaning by another text, either through deliberate compositional strategies such as quotation, allusion, calque, plagiarism, translation, pastiche or parody, or by interconnections between similar or related works perceived by an audience or reader of the text."
The relationship between texts, especially literary works, that refer to, quote, or borrow from each other.
Definition of Intertextuality: Intertextuality refers to the interconnectedness and interdependence of various texts, as well as the ways in which texts reference, influence, and relate to each other.
Epic as a Literary Genre: Epic is a genre of literature that features a grand narrative told in a lofty and formal style. Epics typically have heroic characters, grandiose themes, and elaborate mythologies.
Oral Tradition: The oral tradition was the earliest form of storytelling, where tales were passed down orally from generation to generation before the invention of writing. Epic poems were often part of an oral tradition and were eventually written down.
Homeric Epics: The Iliad and The Odyssey are two of the most well-known epics in Western literature. Both were written by Homer, an ancient Greek poet.
Intertextuality in the Homeric Epics: The Homeric epics are rich in intertextuality, with numerous references to other mythological tales, legends, and events. For example, The Odyssey makes several allusions to the events in The Iliad.
Medieval Epics: Epic literature continued to thrive during the Middle Ages, with texts like Beowulf and The Divine Comedy.
Biblical Epics: The Bible has also been a source of inspiration for epic texts, with numerous epic retellings of biblical stories.
Postmodern Epics: In the postmodern era, epics have taken on new forms through intertextuality and self-referentiality. Examples of postmodern epics include James Joyce's Ulysses and Italo Calvino's If on a winter's night a traveler.
Intertextuality in Film and TV: Intertextual references can also be found in film and television, with shows like Westworld and Stranger Things featuring intertextual references to other texts.
Critical Approaches to Intertextuality: Various critical approaches have been developed to study intertextuality, including structuralism, reader-response theory, psychoanalysis, and postcolonial theory.
Impact of Intertextuality on Literature: Understanding intertextuality is crucial for scholars and students of literature, as it allows them to trace the evolution of literary genres and identify the ways in which texts interact with each other.
Role in Creative Writing: For creative writers, intertextuality can serve as a source of inspiration and help them to create more complex, nuanced narratives.
Future of Intertextuality: With the rise of digital media and the blurring of boundaries between different forms of media, the future of intertextuality in literature and other art forms is likely to be even more complex and multifaceted.
Ethical Implications: The use of intertextuality raises questions about authorship, authenticity, and ownership. Additionally, the incorporation of cultural references from other cultures can raise issues of cultural appropriation and exploitation.
Conclusion: In conclusion, intertextuality is a complex and fascinating topic that has significant implications for our understanding of literature, culture, and creative expression. It is an essential component of the epic genre and is likely to continue to shape our understanding of storytelling for years to come.
Allusion: An epic may allude to other works of literature, mythology, or historical events. For example, the character of Achilles in Homer's Iliad alludes to the myth of his invulnerable heel.
Parody: A parody is a humorous imitation of another work of literature. The epic poem, The Rape of the Lock, by Alexander Pope, is a parody of the epic genre.
Intertextual symbolism: An epic may use symbols that have meaning beyond the work itself. For example, the Odyssey's journey home is a symbol for the human journey through life.
Retelling: An epic may retell a story that has already been told in another work of literature. For example, Virgil's Aeneid retells the story of the Trojan War from the perspective of the Trojan hero Aeneas.
Homage: An epic may pay homage to a previous work of literature by using similar themes, motifs, or techniques. For example, John Milton's Paradise Lost pays homage to the epic tradition established by Homer and Virgil.
Adaptation: An epic may be adapted into another form, such as a play or film. For example, the epic poem Beowulf has been adapted into a modern film by several directors.
"These references are sometimes made deliberately and depend on a reader's prior knowledge and understanding of the referent."
"The effect of intertextuality is not always intentional and is sometimes inadvertent."
"Often associated with strategies employed by writers working in imaginative registers (fiction, poetry, and drama and even non-written texts like performance art and digital media)."
"Referential intertextuality refers to the use of fragments in texts and typological intertextuality refers to the use of pattern and structure in typical texts."
"Iterability makes reference to the 'repeatability' of certain text that is composed of 'traces', pieces of other texts that help constitute its meaning."
"Presupposition makes a reference to assumptions a text makes about its readers and its context."
"The term 'has come to have almost as many meanings as users, from those faithful to Julia Kristeva's original vision to those who simply use it as a stylish way of talking about allusion and influence'."
"Deliberate compositional strategies such as quotation, allusion, calque, plagiarism, translation, pastiche or parody."
"These references [...] depend on a reader's prior knowledge and understanding of the referent."
"Yes, intertextuality may now be understood as intrinsic to any text, including non-written texts like performance art and digital media."
"Intertextuality is the shaping of a text's meaning by another text."
"No, it is also employed by writers working in imaginative registers, such as fiction, poetry, drama, performance art, and digital media."
"Referential intertextuality refers to the use of fragments in texts."
"Iterability makes reference to the 'repeatability' of certain text that is composed of 'traces'."
"Yes, presupposition refers to assumptions a text makes about its readers and its context."
"Deliberate compositional strategies such as quotation, allusion, calque, plagiarism, translation, pastiche or parody."
"Yes, the effect of intertextuality is not always intentional and is sometimes inadvertent."
"Typological intertextuality refers to the use of pattern and structure in typical texts."
"Intertextuality may now be understood as intrinsic to any text."