With the growth in popularity due to series like Anne Rice’s The Vampire Chronicles and the motif’s recurring presence in cinematic adaptations of Stoker’s Dracula as well as various TV formats public interest has never ceased to the present day. As the most significant characteristic of the vampire is its being multi-faceted and changing, its potential to be also of great intertextual value can be thereupon considered. Consequently, it can be assumed that Meyer’s tetralogy clearly evokes these instances of intertextuality through the adoption of patterns and themes that have already proved productive in earlier literary works. However, in Meyer’s work these sources are remarkably extended and sometimes even altered as she relies to a large part on her pretexts to tell her narrative and construct a postmodern vampire figure.
In order to achieve a comprehensive analysis it is necessary to incorporate all four volumes – Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn – of the Twilight series in the discussion. Meyer’s just recently published work The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella will only engage a marginal part of the analysis as it largely concentrates on the subplot of Eclipse, hence not being particularly significant for the main events of the story. On the other hand, Meyer’s Midnight Sun, although until the present day a yet unfinished and unpublished manuscript, is of great importance for the subsequent analysis.
Meyer dwells on a number of themes, structures, and characters that have intertextual potential. One can distinguish between pretexts that are apparently marked in Meyer’s work and sources that only bear non-literal intertextual references. Pretexts that are overtly marked and are thus explicitly intertextual in the Twilight series are: Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights, William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, The Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Merchant of Venice, Bram Stoker’s Dracula as well as Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice,
Sense and Sensibility and Mansfield Park. A number of other pretexts are only covertly marked as they point back to literary traditions or character types. Pretexts that are implicitly marked are: Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s Die Braut von Korinth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Christabel, John Keats’ Lamia, Henry Mackenzie’s The Man of Feeling, Lord Byron’s Manfred as well as Roman Polanski’s movie adaptation of Rosemary’s Baby.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Methodology
- 2.1. INTERTEXTUALITY: A STRUCTURALIST APPROACH
- 2.2. THE NARRATOLOGICAL APPROACH
- 2.2.1. Point of view and the Narrator
- 2.2.2. Themes, Motifs, Symbols
- 3. Directions in Research
- 3.1. VAMPIRES IN TWENTY-FIRST-CENTURY LITERATURE
- 3.1. LITERARY CRITICISM ON THE TWILIGHT SERIES
- 4. Man of Feeling, Byronic Hero, and the Nineteenth-Century Vampire
- 4.1. THE MAN OF FEELING
- 4.2. THE BYRONIC HERO
- 4.2.1. Types and Prototypes
- 4.3. THE NINETEENTH CENTURY VAMPIRE AND ITS METAPHOR
- 4.3.1. Lamia, the female Vampire, and Sexuality
- 4.3.2. Power and Alienation, the Aristocratic male Vampire
- 5. Intertextual Structures, Themes, and Characters in the Twilight Series
- 5.1. THE POSTMODERN VAMPIRE FIGURE
- 5.1.1. The Other Perspective
- 5.1.2. Edward Cullen: a Postmodern Byronic Hero
- 5.1.3. The Female Vampire
- 5.1.4. Representations of Good and Evil
- 5.1.5. The Vampire and Society
- 5.2. THE STAR-CROSSED LOVERS
- 5.2.1. Obstacles to a Relationship
- 5.2.2. Lovers driven by Fate
- 5.2.3. Sexuality and the Monster it creates
- 5.3. DOUBLING FIGURES
- 5.3.1. Doubling Characters
- 5.3.2. Doubling Structures
- 5.1. THE POSTMODERN VAMPIRE FIGURE
- 6. The Twilight Saga – An Intertextual Summary
Objectives and Key Themes
This thesis aims to analyze the intertextual structures, themes, and characters in Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series. It explores how Meyer utilizes pre-existing literary works to shape her narrative and create a postmodern vampire figure. The study investigates the extent to which Meyer employs intertextuality, examining both overt and covert references and their impact on the overall narrative.
- Intertextuality in the Twilight series
- The evolution of the vampire figure in literature
- The use of literary archetypes and tropes in the Twilight series
- The relationship between intertext and pretext in Meyer's work
- The role of interfigurality in shaping the characters
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the genesis of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series, originating from a dream. It positions the series within the broader context of vampire literature, tracing its evolution from Romantic era depictions to its contemporary interpretations. The chapter highlights the multifaceted nature of the vampire figure and its capacity to reflect societal anxieties and desires. It establishes the thesis's central question: to what extent does Meyer employ intertextuality to construct her narrative and characters? The introduction also clarifies the scope of the analysis, including all four Twilight novels and addressing the significance of Meyer’s other works like *Midnight Sun*.
2. Methodology: This chapter outlines the theoretical framework underpinning the analysis. It details the structuralist and narratological approaches employed to examine the intertextual relationships within the Twilight series. The chapter provides a foundation for understanding the analytical methods used to identify and interpret intertextual references, thematic echoes, and narrative patterns throughout the series. The specific focus on point of view and thematic elements sets the stage for detailed textual analysis in the subsequent chapters.
3. Directions in Research: This chapter reviews existing scholarship on vampires in 21st-century literature and the critical reception of the Twilight series. It contextualizes Meyer's work within contemporary trends and established literary criticism, providing a critical landscape for understanding the originality and impact of the series. The review highlights gaps in existing scholarship, particularly regarding the series's extensive intertextual relationships.
4. Man of Feeling, Byronic Hero, and the Nineteenth-Century Vampire: This chapter explores the literary antecedents of Meyer's vampire figure, tracing its development through the "Man of Feeling," the Byronic hero, and classic 19th-century vampire portrayals. It analyzes how these figures and their associated tropes contribute to the complexity and appeal of the contemporary vampire, highlighting themes of alienation, power, and sexuality. The chapter meticulously examines the evolution of the vampire archetype from its romantic origins to its modern iterations and the interplay of gender roles in these representations.
5. Intertextual Structures, Themes, and Characters in the Twilight Series: This chapter delves into a detailed analysis of the Twilight series itself, examining its intertextual connections with works such as *Wuthering Heights*, *Romeo and Juliet*, and *Dracula*. It explores how Meyer adapts and transforms established literary themes and characters to create her own unique narrative. The chapter dissects the postmodern vampire figure as represented by Edward Cullen, contrasting it with traditional portrayals. Furthermore, it analyzes the representation of female vampires and the exploration of themes like good versus evil, love, and societal pressures within the series's narrative.
Keywords
Intertextuality, Twilight series, Stephenie Meyer, Vampire literature, Postmodernism, Byronic hero, Gothic literature, Romance, Archetypes, Themes, Characters, Narrative structure, Literary analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Analysis of Intertextuality in Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Saga
What is the main focus of this academic text?
This academic text provides a comprehensive analysis of the intertextual structures, themes, and characters within Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series. It explores how Meyer utilizes pre-existing literary works to shape her narrative and create a postmodern vampire figure. The analysis investigates both overt and covert intertextual references and their impact on the overall narrative.
What methodology is used in this analysis?
The analysis employs a combination of structuralist and narratological approaches. This includes examining point of view, narrative techniques, themes, motifs, symbols, and intertextual relationships to understand how Meyer constructs her narrative and characters. The text details how these methodologies are applied to identify and interpret intertextual references and thematic echoes throughout the series.
What literary works are referenced in the analysis of the Twilight series?
The analysis draws parallels between the Twilight series and various literary works, including but not limited to Wuthering Heights, Romeo and Juliet, and Dracula. It also examines the evolution of the vampire figure from earlier literary portrayals such as the "Man of Feeling" and the Byronic hero, tracing the development of the vampire archetype and its associated tropes through literary history.
What are the key themes explored in the Twilight series according to this analysis?
Key themes explored include the evolution of the vampire figure in literature, the use of literary archetypes and tropes, the relationship between intertext and pretext, the role of interfigurality in shaping characters, the postmodern vampire figure, star-crossed lovers, and doubling figures. The analysis also considers themes of good versus evil, love, sexuality, power, alienation, and societal pressures.
How does the analysis address the postmodern aspects of the Twilight vampire?
The analysis examines Edward Cullen as a postmodern Byronic hero, comparing and contrasting him with traditional representations of the Byronic hero and the vampire. It investigates how Meyer's portrayal of vampires deviates from and builds upon existing literary conventions, creating a unique interpretation within a postmodern context.
What is the scope of the analysis regarding Stephenie Meyer's works?
The analysis focuses primarily on the four novels of the Twilight Saga, but also acknowledges and incorporates relevant aspects of Meyer's other works, such as Midnight Sun, where appropriate, to provide a more complete understanding of her creative process and thematic consistency.
What is included in the provided text preview?
The preview includes a table of contents, a statement of objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords. It offers a comprehensive overview of the entire analysis, allowing readers to understand the structure and content before engaging with the full text.
What are the key literary figures discussed in relation to the Twilight vampires?
The analysis discusses the "Man of Feeling," the Byronic hero, and the 19th-century vampire as key literary antecedents to Meyer's portrayal of vampires. It examines how these figures and their associated characteristics contribute to the complexity and appeal of the contemporary vampire portrayed in the Twilight saga.
- Citation du texte
- Kathrin Fäller (Auteur), 2010, “And it’s all there” – Intertextual Structures, Themes, and Characters in Stephenie Meyer’s "Twilight" Series, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/182779
