RESEARCH SPECTRUM: VOL: 3, ISSUE: 2, AUGUST, 2012
INETRTEXTUALITY IN THE POSTMODERN ENGLISH
LITERATURE
Santosh Kadam, Bharat Mahavidyalaya, Jeur, Solapur
Postmodernism has no definite date for the
rise and fall. Generally, its beginning date is 1941
the year, in which Irish novelist James Joyce (1882-
1941) and English novelist Virginia Woolf (1882-
1941) both died. Sometimes, it is known as a rough
boundary for postmodernism. Postmodernisms real
beginning is existed after publication of John Hawkes
The Cannibal (1949), Samuel Becketts Waiting for
Godot (1953), Jacques Derridas Structure Sign and
Play (1966) and Ihab Hassans The
Dismemberment of Orpheus (1971). This term
describes certain characteristics of post World War
II literature e.g. on fragmentation, paradox,
questionable narrators etc. and a reaction against
enlightenment ideas implicit in modernist literature.
The prefix post is explained very much that it is a
reaction against modernism. To define
postmodernism is very hard. It is a complex term,
but there is an agreement on the exact
characteristics, scope and importance of
postmodernism. It is commonly defined in relation
with its precursor. The postmodern authors eschew
often playfully the possibility of meaning and the post
modern novel is often a parody of the quest while
the modern authors have a quest for meaning in a
chaotic world. The postmodern writers tend to
celebrate chance over craft, and further employ
metafication to undermine the writers authority. Its
another feature is the questioning of distinctions
between high and low culture through the use of
pastiche, the combination of subjects and genres not
previous deemed fit for literature. We have difference
between modernism and postmodernism, but we find
a similarity between them in the search of
subjectivism turning from external reality to examine
inner states of consciousness.
Postmodernism has some common themes
and techniques such as irony, playfulness, black
humor, intertextuality, Pastiche, metafiction,
62
fabulation, poioumena, historiographic metafiction,
temporal distortion, magic realism, technoulture and
hyperreality, paranoia, maximalism and minimalism.
All of these themes and techniques are often used
together by the postmodern authors. We have a good
example that metafiction and pastiche are often used
for irony by many writers in their writings. Some
writers are also tried to create something new in the
postmodern literature. It means we are very unable
to draw a list of features of the postmodern literature.
Intertextuality is one of the most important
elements among postmodern elements of literature.
Postmodernism is a decentered concept of the
universe in which individual works are not isolated
creations. It means that much of the focus in the study
of postmodern literature is settled down on
intertextuality. Intertextuality has been the
relationship between one text and another or one
text within the interwoven fabric of literary history.
An indication of postmodernisms lack of originality
and reliance on cliches are pointed out by the famous
critics. It is a reference or parallel to another literary
work and an extended discussion of a work or the
adoption of a style. This element was coined by
poststructuralist Julia Kristeva in 1966. Actually
intertextuality has, itself, been borrowed and
transformed many times. William Irwin, a well known
critic talks about this term such as has come to have
almost as many meaning as users from those faithful
to Kristevas original vision to those who simply use
it as a stylish way of talking about allusion and
influence
Intertextuality has been differentiation.
There are different views on intertextuality. It has no
accurate boundary in literature. It is found different
definition based on that term. We can make a
distinction between a mere reference to another work
e.g. a mention of the name of a book, movie, song,
etc within another work and an actual intertexual use
RESEARCH SPECTRUM: VOL: 3, ISSUE: 2, AUGUST, 2012 63

of an idea, citation, allusion, motif or symbol from Joyces Ulysses. We decode it as a modernist
another work in order to make a point on reinterpret literary experiment, or as a response to the epic
an earlier work. Theses two varieties are in that term. tradition or as part of some other conversation, or a
It means that there are vertical intertextuality and part of all of these conversation at once. Roland
horizontal intertextuality. John Fiske does agree on Barthes supports to the intertextual view of literature
these two differences. He says that it will be become that it is a concept of the meaning of a text does not
possible. reside in the text, but it is produced by the reader in
Intertexuality can be found easily in the relation not only to the text in question, but also the
postmodern English literature. Many authors are complex network of texts invoked in the reading
coined this device in their writings. John Steinbeck process. Daniela caselli reexamines intertextuality
published East of Eden in 1952. East of Eden has as a series of relationship between different text in
a retelling of the story of Geneis which is set in the his more recent post structuralist theory Dantes
Salinas Valley of Northern California. James Joyces Intertextuality in the Fiction and Criticism (MUP
Ulysses (1918) has a retelling of Homers Odyssey, 2005). Some postmodern theorists find a relationship
set in Dublin. Here is intertextuality between James between intertextuality and hypertextuality.
Joyces Ulysses and Homers Odyssey. Matt Haigs According to them, intertextuality makes each text a
The Dead Fathers Club (2006) is set in modern living hell of hell on earth and hyper text is a part of a
England where is a retelling of Shakespeares larger mosaic of texts such as each hypertext can
Hamlet, Jane Smileys A Thousand Acres (1991) be a web of links and a part of the whole World Wide
is based on a retelling of Shakespeares King Lear. Web. A famous critic shows distinctions between the
C.S. Lewis Perelandra is related with Miltons notions of intertext hypertextand supertext. We
Paradise Lost. Jean Rhys Wide Sargasso Sea have a good example of Milorad Pavics Dictionary
(1966) is based on the mad women of Charlotte of the Khazars. It is present in criticism areas of
Brontes Jane Eyre. Steven Pressfied refers literature.
Bhagavad Gita in his The Legend of Bagger Vance Some famous critics criticize that the
(1996). John Steinbeck unfolds the Arthurian legends ubiquity of the term intertexuality in postmodern
in his Tortila Flat (1935). Craig Janacek retells criticism has crowded out related terms and important
Homers Illiad in his The Anger of Achilles Peterson nuances. William Irwin expresses that intertextuality
(2011). Eugene ONeill retells Aeschylus The is eclipsed allusion as an object of literary study while
Oresteia in his Mourning Becomes Electra(1931). lacking the latter terms clear definition. Linda
These above authors are used intertextuality very Hutcheon comments that excessive interest in
effectively in their writings. Authors borrow and intertexuality rejects the role of the author, because
transform of a prior text or to a readers referencing it can be found in the eye of the beholder and does
of one text in reading another are intertexuality. not entailed communicators intentions. He takes
Intertextuality is also present in criticism notes in his A Theory of Parody that parody is always
through poststructuralism. Kristevas intertextuality features of an author who actively encodes a text as
exists an attempt to synthesize ferdinad de an imitation with critical difference. It is criticized by
Saussures semiotics which is his study of how sings different critics and writers.
derive their meaning within the structure of a text. Eventhough critics are criticized on
Bakhtins dialogism is his examination of the multiple intertextuality. Some other many critics are supported
meaning, or heteroglossia in each text and in each on other side. There are many attempts to define
word. Kristeva think that the notion of intertextuality different types of intertextuality. John Fiske has made
replaces the notion of intersubjectivity when we a distinction between what he labels Vertical and
realize that meaning is not transferred directly form horizontal intertextuality. Horizontal intertextuality
writer to reader, but instead is mediated through, or denotes references that are on the same level that
filtered by codes imparted to the writer and reader is when books make references to other books while
by other texts. We have a great example of James vertical intertextuality is found when we say a book
RESEARCH SPECTRUM: VOL: 3, ISSUE: 2, AUGUST, 2012 64

makes a references to film or song or vice versa.
Another critic is Linguistic Norman Fairclough makes
distinguishes between manifest intertextuality and
constitutive intertextuality similarly. Intertexual
elements are presupposition, negation, parody, irony,
etc in the former. Constitutive intertextuality is also
referred interdiscursivity though generally
interdiscursivity refers to relations between larger
formations of texts. It has the most important element
in the literature. It presents already in the Bible. It
has come in literature in very early time in poems,
classical history, mythology etc. Though it was
present in early time, it is used very effectively in the
postmodern literature. It has crossed the boundary
of English Language. We have an example of Lucia
Etxebarria who is Spanish writer. He wrote poem
collection Estacion de infierno (2001 ) where we find
intertextuality in that anthology. It means that its
usage increases day by day. It has become the most
notable term in the postmodern English Literature.
Intertextuality goes in different areas over
the world. We can find a similarity between hypertext
and intertextuality. It is also supported by many critics
and writers. Hypertext is clearly related with internet.
Hypertext means that it is something different.
According to Gennette, a hypertext is one that refers
to another text in a way other than commentary.
Gennette argues about hypertext. He says that
hypertext is very nearly with intertextuality. We have
similarity between hypertext and intertextuality at a
level. However intertextuality makes more
ambiguous to hypertext. Its definition compels that
term to become more and more vague. For that
matter we have controversy in hypertext on
agreement or disagreement. It is automatically
become a controversial term. Hypertext and
intertextuality are become more difficult to
understand each other. We can understand, but
many critics and writers are agreed that hypertext is
nothing another thing, but also it is only intertextuality.
Even though it has a different field, it is retained in
that field by that name. We can understand that they
are not different to each other, but also they are same.
Intertextuality retains from very previous
time to now. In the previous time it had less
importance, but now it gets more and more
significance by everyday. Its usage is very effectively
in the postmodern literature. If it is in the postmodern
literature, it crosses the field of literature and it goes
different filed. After 1950s, it reaches achievement.
It presents also in internet, movies, etc. In internet
we have hypertext. Movies have direct relationship
with intertextuality. Intertextuality has the most
important notable element in the postmodern
literature. There is a need that to find out various
function of that term in the literature and also in the
other fields. Its role is unforgettable in our literature.
It was present in the previous time. It shapes novels,
poems, dramas etc. On that basis many writers and
authors are become very famous and got name and
fame on their credit. This term can be found easily in
the postmodern English literature. The Postmodern
English literature takes a base of Intertextuality.

References:
1) Agger Gunhild, Intertextuality Revised Dialogues and Negotiations in Media studies, Canadian Journal,
1999
2) Barth , John, Postmodernism Revised, 1995
3) Fairclough, Norman, Drscourse and Social change, Polity Press, Cambridge, 1992
4) Genette, Gerard, Palimpsets: Literature in the second degree, University of Nebraska Press, Lincon
in NE and London
5) Haig, Matt, The Dead Fathers Club, 2006
6) Irwin, William, Against Intertextuality philosophy and Literature, 2004
7) Janacek, Craig,The Anger of Achilles Peterson, 2011
8) Joyce, James, Ulysses, 1918
9) Kristeva, Julia, Desire in Language: A Semiotic Approach to Literature and Art, Columbia University
Press, New York, 1980
RESEARCH SPECTRUM: VOL: 3, ISSUE: 2, AUGUST, 2012 65

10) Linda, Hutheon, A Theory of Parody: The Teaching of Twentieth- Century, Art Forms, New York,
Methuen, 1985
11) Jewis, C.S. Perelandra, 1943
12) Lyotard, Jean Francois, The Postmodern Condition: A Report on Knowledge, 1984
13) McHale, Brain, Postmodernist Fiction, Routledge, London, 1987 and Constructing Postmodernism,
Routledge, New York 1992
14) ONeill, Eugene, Mourning Becomes Electra, 1931
15) Pasco, Allan, H., Allusion, A Literary Graft 1994, Rook Wood Press, Chariotties Ville, 2002
16) Porter, Stanley. E, The use of the old Testament in the New Testament: A Brief Comment on Method
and Terminology. In Early Christian Interpretation of the Scriptures of Israel Investigation and
Proposals, 1997
17) Pressfield,Steven, The Legend of Bagger Vance, 1996 Sternbeck, John, Tortilla Flat, 1935.
18) Rhys, Jean, Wide Sargasso, 1966
19) Smiley, Jane, A Thousand Acre, 1991
20) Steinbeck, John, East of Eden, 1952
21) Tortilla Flat, 1935