Intertextuality elicits a sheer unlimited range of possible readings of a text. This is due to the fact that intertextual references enrich and deepen the text. It depends on the reader and his prior knowledge, however, in how far he is able to notice and activate the intertextual references in order to derive further meaning from it.
Table of Contents
1. Intertextuality
Objectives & Core Topics
This academic text examines the concept of intertextuality as a mechanism that allows texts to gain depth and meaning through references to other works. It explores how a reader's individual background knowledge determines their interpretation and investigates the cyclical relationship between literature and its various adaptations.
- The theoretical definition of intertextuality and the role of the author
- Biblical and genre-based allusions within Herman Melville's Moby Dick
- The influence of reader-specific background knowledge on text perception
- Intertextuality as a continuous cycle involving film, comics, and television
- The function of adaptations as individual "readings" of a source text
Excerpt from the book
Intertextuality
Intertextuality elicits a sheer unlimited range of possible readings of a text. This is due to the fact that intertextual references enrich and deepen the text. It depends on the reader and his prior knowledge, however, in how far he is able to notice and activate the intertextual references in order to derive further meaning from it.
The term “intertextuality” was “coined by Julia Kristeva in 1966 to denote the interdependence of literary texts, the interdependence of any one literary text with all those that have gone before it.” (Cuddon 1998, 424).
Scholars have argued that every text directly or indirectly refers to other texts. Thus every text is a collection of quotations and allusion from the vastness of literature. Kristeva declared that “a literary text is not an isolated phenomenon but is made up of a mosaic of quotations, and any text is an ‘absorption and transformation of another’.” (Cuddon 1998, 424). Thus it can be derived that no text can be seen and interpreted separately, as a piece of art on its own, but as a small component in a vast cosmos of interrelated texts. This assumption questions the “originality” of authors. Yet, as Barthes moves authors out of the spotlight of research by introducing the “Death of the Author” the question arises: How does intertextuality effect the reader’s perception of a text?
Summary of Chapters
1. Intertextuality: This chapter defines intertextuality as the interdependence of literary texts and explores how readers use their prior knowledge to decode references, highlighting that interpretation is an ongoing, subjective process influenced by cultural and educational backgrounds.
Keywords
Intertextuality, Julia Kristeva, Moby Dick, Herman Melville, Literature, Adaptation, Literary Theory, Reader Perception, Biblical References, Symbolism, Cultural Background, Textual Analysis, Narrative Depth, Media Intertextuality
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic paper?
The paper explores the concept of intertextuality, examining how texts are interconnected through references and how these connections shape a reader's understanding and interpretation of a literary work.
What are the central themes discussed in the text?
The central themes include the "Death of the Author," the role of reader background knowledge, the nature of literary adaptations, and the idea that all texts are essentially mosaics of previous works.
What is the core research question addressed by the author?
The author investigates how intertextuality affects a reader's perception of a text and how the meaning of a work evolves through its constant reference to other literary and cultural texts.
Which scientific methods are applied in this work?
The text employs a qualitative analysis of literary theory and uses Moby Dick as a primary case study, incorporating perspectives from scholars like Julia Kristeva and Robert Stam to support its arguments.
What content is covered in the main section of the paper?
The main section covers the definition of intertextuality, analyzes specific examples from Moby Dick (such as biblical allusions), and discusses how adaptations like films and comics turn literature into an endless cycle of intertextual references.
Which keywords best characterize this publication?
The key concepts include intertextuality, literary adaptation, reader-response theory, textual interdependence, and the analysis of intermedial references.
How does the author explain the role of the reader in decoding intertextual references?
The author argues that the reader acts as a filter; the depth of understanding depends heavily on the reader's prior knowledge, cultural background, and educational level.
In what way does the text analyze the adaptation of Moby Dick in film and comics?
The author views these adaptations not just as versions of the original, but as new "readings" that become independent intertextual references, creating a cycle where the medium itself influences future interpretations.
How does the mention of the Bible in Moby Dick serve as an intertextual example?
The author highlights how specific biblical names and references are used by Melville to subtly influence the reader's attitude toward characters like Captain Ahab, demonstrating how text-internal explanations can bridge the gap for readers without prior knowledge.
Why does the author use the Star Trek episode as a concluding example?
The Star Trek example illustrates that intertextual references function like internet links, providing additional layers of meaning and depth to a scene for those who recognize the connection to the original text.
- Quote paper
- Dörte Schabsky (Author), 2008, A Whale of a Book - Intertextuality in "Moby Dick", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/154161
