WHAT IS INTERTEXTUALITY

“How a text is related to the other texts”

 By definition, intertextuality is the manner in which one text influences another. This borrowing can be done
by an author in either direct or indirect manner. Historically, it was in 1960s that a French Julia Kristeva
made the definition of intertextuality.
 Accordingly, it originated from the Latin word “intertexto” which means “to intermingle while weaving”.
According to Kristeva, all literary outputs which are created contemporarily are intertextual with the works
that were created before them.
 On the other hand, Merriam-Webster dictionary defines intertextuality as the “complex interrelationship
between a text and other texts taken as basic to the creation of interpretation of the text”.
 Furthermore, the Glossary of Literary Terms written by M.H. Abrams defines this technique as signifying
multiple ways in which any literary text is combined with other texts through open or covert citations and
allusions, as well as repetitions and transformations of the formal and substantive features of earlier texts.

Examples of Intertextuality:

1. Fan fiction is a great example of deliberate intertextuality. In fan fiction, authors enter the fictional worlds of
other authors and create their own stories.
a. For example, a Lord of the Rings fan fiction might tell the story of minor characters or add new
characters to the world of Middle Earth. Sometimes, fan fiction becomes extremely successful in its own
right – 50 Shades of Grey was originally written as Twilight fan fiction.
2. Martin Luther King’s writing was heavily influenced by the work of Mohandas Gandhi, especially in the area
of nonviolent resistance. Much of this intertextuality was deliberate, with King explicitly crediting Gandhi as
one of his influences. Scholars, however, have debated whether there might have been other aspects of
Gandhi’s writing, such as his aesthetic style, that also influenced King in a more latent way.

For one to clearly identify intertextuality, it is important that he or she has a wide knowledge of varied texts.
Basically, this is where the need to read more and increase your bank of books, poems, films and plays comes in.

There are two common ways in which a writer applies intertextuality in his or her works.

These are through:

 Implicit reference - It happens when the writer refers to a different text through the use of ideas, symbols,
genre or style
 Explicit reference - It happens when the writer mentions, quotes or cites another text in his or her work in a
direct manner.

This helps shape meaning because all texts portray particular perspective on issues or messages. So, composers
refer to specific texts to enrich or extend of their message.

TYPES OF INTERTEXTUALITY 

While intertextuality as a technique in drama is only aimed at one thing – to produce and shape meaning, it comes in
various types with different characteristics.

1. ALLUSION
 Among the types of intertextuality, this is perhaps the most common and effective technique. It refers to
an indirect reference in one text to another text, place, historical period, or author for the purpose of
enriching or developing meaning. 
 Allusion is one of those techniques where there are a variety of different forms of allusion. These differ
depending on the type of thing the allusion is referring

Intertextuality can take many forms, and you’ll recognize many of them from your favorite books. Here are some
types of intertextuality you may have encountered:

Below are the four types of allusion:

1. Historical- It is an allusion which refers back to a historical event or period.

 For example: “He was a Nero” This statement allows the readers to associate the character’s
attribute of having a disturbing behaviour similar to that of the infamous Roman emperor.
2. Mythological- It refers to an allusion to a mythological figure or story.
 For example: “She ran faster than Hermes.” Mythological In this statement, the character’s ability to
ran is compared to that of Hermes, the messenger of the Greek Gods.
3. Literary- This refers to an allusion to a literary text or figure.
 For example: “No matter how Dorian adjusted the electric blanket it was either too hot or too cold,
never just right.” The statement is taken from the lines of the famous figure, Goldilocks.
4. Religious- This is an allusion to a religious text, story, or figure.
 For example: “Reflecting on her cruel behavior, Cinderella’s stepmother stood still like a pillar of
salt.” The text is referenced from the religious figure, Lot’s wife.
  For example, in the Western canon of literature, many religious allusions relate to the bible and
ideas such as the Garden of Eden or classical myths, and also the Grecian gods.

Now we know what allusion is, what the different types are, and how it works, let’s look at how to analyze it.

HOW TO ANALYZE ALLUSION: A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

Analyzing techniques is daunting. But it shouldn’t be. There is no mystery to literary analyzing. As matrix students
learn, it is a systematic process. Let’s have a look at the overview of how to analyze an allusion.

1. Read the passage to find out if there is a clear presence of allusion to a place, time, religion, myth or text.
2. Identify the examples that allude to something else; and the;
 Figure out what type of allusion it is
 Ask yourself, “what does this allusion refer to?”
3. Ask yourself what this allusion conveys in the text?
4. Write about what this allusion does, and how it supports your argument using a T.E.E.L structure

T.E.E.L stands for:

 Technique: The technique used in the example.
 Example: The example.
 Effect: Your explanation of the effect.
 Link: An explanation of how this example supports your argument.

2. PARODY
 Parody This type of intertextuality refers to the writer’s imitation of another text for the purpose of
exposing and discrediting one’s vice or follies. Often, a writer uses this type to mock its targets who
are usually celebrities, politicians, authors, a style or trend or any subject which arouses anyone’s
interest at the moment or at a specific period of time.
 When one piece of writing uses many of the same elements of another but does it in a new and
funny way, this is an example of parody. The parody may copy the setting, plot, characters, or other
parts of the original work.
 Historically, the word “parody” comes from the Greek phrase parodia which is a type of poem that
copied the style of epic poems but with the characteristics of mockery and light comedy.

The following are some of the examples of this type of intertextuality:

Example 1: “Your little sister puts on your father’s big shoes and stomps around in them, saying, ‘I need to
make a business call. I am very busy, very important businessman!’”

This example shows that the father was being imitated by the girl who knows that he works as a
businessman. The statements suggest to show the image of many businessmen as overly serious and
acclaimed self-important.
 Example 2: “At the talent show, a group of boys wears matching outfits and prances around singing One
Direction’s “Best Song Ever.” They sing very poorly and overly dramatically.”

In this example, the boys are parodying the way a famous band dresses, sings, and performs in a humorous
way, commenting on how many pop stars are actually low-leveled in terms of talent.

3. QUOTATION
 This is another common type of intertextuality which involves a direct reference to another text,
giving citation to the owner of the text.
 Quotation is known to be a device used for talking about language. It works in a somehow tricky
way- that is, to make its referent perform or participate in the referring.
 Placing quotation marks around a certain word produces a device which infers that very word.
 The most vital function of quotation marks is to set off and represent the exact language which is
either spoken or written by somebody else. This means that any revision or edition of the exact
statement or words defeats the purpose of quoting.

Example 1: In the end, Albert Einstein was right when he said, “Life is like a bicycle. You need to keep
moving.” Example 2: Dr. King said, “I have a dream.”

4. APPROPRIATION
 This type of intertextuality allows the writer to make a reworking or reimagination of a popular text
for the purpose of changing or extending its meaning.
 Typically, it creates a whole new product and domain away from its originating source.

Example 1: One famous example of appropriation is L.H.O.O.Q, an artwork created by Marcel Duchamp, is
an appropriation of Mona Lisa which is created by Da Vinci. In his version, Dumchamp took a picture of Da
Vinci’s artwork and added a moustache on it.

5. ADAPTATION
 This type of intertextuality entails creating a film, TV drama or stage play based on a specific
written work.
 Historically, there are different reasons why a writer would want to employ adaptation in his or her
work. One of these is the desire to reconfigure a popular material into becoming a more acceptable
guise or introducing to the audience a whole new and fresh literary style. Another reason is to get
around censorship and push boundaries.
 Perhaps one of the most common examples for this is the film adaptation of JK Rowling’s Harry
Potter which was originally, a written novel.

You tried to look at these pictures and video clips, who are movie lovers here? You might say that, that movie is
somehow related to another movie. Even the most iconic popular films have borrowed heavily from other source
material, other fashion designer say “I got this idea from a famous designer and just made my own twist, for singers
the moment they sing a popular song they also have their own version, their own style. This is due in part of what we
called an Intertextuality.

OVERVIEW & PURPOSE

In order to add a layer of depth to a text, writers will connect their ideas to other texts either in alluding to another text,
creating a parody, developing a pastiche, writing fan fiction, or modernizing or retelling a story in a modern setting. In
order to help students see the interconnection between similar or related works of literature and media, students will
write their own original creative writing piece based on a work. This 13 page handout includes the following:

1. Instructions for the assignment: students can either write poetry, a short story, TV script, or a chapter of a book.

2. Rubric for the assignment

3. Examples of the different types of texts with specific links to show students: allusions, parody, pastiche, fan fiction,
modernizing a story

4. Two exemplars from Mrs. MacFarland with a rationale (a poem and a short story)

5. Poetry terms and handouts for analyzing Margaret Atwood’s poetry that incorporates allusion
Guidelines:

1. First, play for the student the Katy Perry Video Roar and ask the students what the song is
about. Ask the students what the line “eye of the tiger” means in Perry’s song and if they have
heard the saying before.
2. Show students Survivor’s 1980s music video Eye of the Tiger. Ask students, “How does this
video inform your understanding of Katy Perry’s song Roar? In what ways does this song change
your understanding of Katy Perry’s song? ”
3. Tell the students that intertextuality is when a text ‘s meaning (story, book, article, song, video,
movie) is influenced by another text. Intertextual references can be subtle or obvious. The key
idea is that these intertexual references allow for a deeper understanding of the text. Katy
Perry’s music is a great example because she references so much music history in her songs –
from Radiohead to Johnny Cash.
4. Next show the students Queen’s video We are the Champions and ask students the connections
between the previous songs. ”What are the messages all three of these artists trying to
communicate?” Tell students, “Intertextual thinking can also be looking at patterns of events
across stories, or looking at how authors have chosen to convey ideas about the same topic in
different ways.”

Guidelines:

1. Watch and listen to Katy Perry’s video “Roar”

 What is the song all about?
 What is the line “eye of the tiger means in Katy Perry’s song?
2. Watch the Survivor’s 1980 music video “Eye of the Tiger”
 “How does this video inform your understanding of Katy Perry’s song Roar?
 In what ways does this song change your understanding of Katy Perry’s song?”
3. Watch and listen to the music video of Queen’s “We are the champion”.
 What do you think is connection of “We are the champions” between the previous songs.
 ”What are the messages all three of these artists trying to communicate?”

Instruction for Submission:

1. Do it using Microsoft word and send/upload it in Creative Writing Facebook Group Page.
2. Your output will be graded based on the given criteria.
3. Make sure to pass your activity on or before the given dealine.

Intertextuality

 Inter-means used to form words meaning between or among groups of people, things or places.
 Intertextuality is the shaping of a text meaning by another text.
 A literary work is not simply the product of a single author, but of its relationship to other texts and to the
structure of language itself.