Quarter 2 INTERTEXTUALITY AS A

Week 2
TECHNIQUE IN DRAMA
Competency: Understand intertextuality as a technique of drama
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WHAT I NEED TO KNOW

At the end of this lesson, the learners are expected to:

1. define intertextuality in drama,

2. understand the significance of intertextuality as a technique in drama
3. revise the previously composed draft of drama applying the technique of intertextuality

V WHAT IS IT

Intertextuality: Definition Unfold

Perhaps, you have already applied intertextuality technique in your own literary works, yet you do not know that that is
how you call it in literature. Have you tried borrowing phrases and concepts from other’s works and integrate them to your own
literary work? If so, then you have already done intertextuality without even knowing it.

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.

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.
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.

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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.

Below are the four types of allusion:

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

For example: “He was a Nero”

Historical

This statement allows the readers to associate the character’s attribute of having a
disturbing behaviour similar to that of the infamous Roman emperor.

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.

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
Literary hot or too cold, never just right.”

The statement is taken from the lines of the famous figure, Goldilocks.

This is an allusion to a religious text, story, or figure.

For example: “Reflecting on her cruel behaviour, Cinderella’s stepmother stood still
Religious like a pillar of salt.”

The text is referenced from the religious figure, Lot’s wife.

Your Guide on How to Analyze Allusion

Here is your step-by-step guide on how to analyze allusion:

Step 1: Read the passage to find out if there is a clear presence of

allusion to a place, time, religion, myth or text.

Step 2: Identify the examples that refer to something else, the type of
allusion used and the reference of the allusion. 7
 Step 3: Determine what the allusion suggests in the text.

2. 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.

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.

Examples of Parody

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 re-imagination 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.

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.

Another example of appropriation is evident in Clueless where Emma appeared differently from that of the 1800’s to a
modernized version of her living in the 1990’s in America. The sets and scenery, dialogue and costumes are generally different,
too. The appropriation technique was also applied in the main character’s attribute in which she is now into online youtube and blog
to go with the latest trend of Emma working and blogging as a matchmaker online.

5. Adaptation
This type of intertextuality entails creating a film, TV drama or stage play based on a specific written work. 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.
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 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.

Significance of Intertextuality

While we are studying intertextuality in drama, you might as well wonder its significance to drama is or to the world of
literature as a whole. Below are some of the known reasons why intertextuality in drama is important:

● It provides readers with a much richer reading experience.

● It helps give new interpretations of literary works as it comes with a different context, idea, or story into the text.
● It provides pleasure in terms of connection and continuity of cultures and texts.
● It invites readers to revisit the earlier text, but this time, with new insights and meanings relevant to the present time.
● It causes readers and audiences to raise questions concerning the nature of authorship and originality of the text.
● It helps students write their own texts based on what they know from others.
● It portrays a connection between two texts with certain messages and ideas.
● It makes the readers think and re-interpret the meaning of the referenced text, as well as find common ideals, issues or
values embedded and discovered across the texts used.

Intertextuality and plagiarism

In this world where anything can now be easily copied anytime over the Internet, plagiarism is definitely a no-no and is in
fact, considered a criminal offense. As intertextuality involves a purposeful use of someone else’s work without proper citation, will
it be considered as plagiarism?

By definition, plagiarism is the act of “using or closely imitating the language and thoughts of another author without
authorization.” This, in its sense, may include intertextuality. Nonetheless, it is the intention and the purpose for using someone
else’s work that excludes intertextuality from committing such offense.

Technically, intertextuality uses small excerpts of a hypotext which helps the readers or audience get into the new
hypertext’s original themes, characters or contexts. The writer makes use of a portion of another text and alters its meaning by
putting it into another context. Basically, this means that the writers are simply using the ideas of others in order to develop or
enrich their own ideas and not plagiarizing them.

In general, while plagiarism is simply copying the texts from one’s work and putting it into your own work, intertextuality is
basically grounded on the purpose of creating new ideas based on the researched ideas from others to confirm them. Hence,
intertextuality is not an act of plagiarism at all.

WHAT’S MORE

Activity 1 . Please go back to the writing activity that you have done in the “What’s More” portion of Lesson 6 in this Module.
There, you wrote a draft of drama, applying the elements, techniques and literary devices in drama mentioned in that lesson. This
time, make a revision of that draft. Take into account the use of intertextuality technique in order to make your work more
interesting and meaningful.

ASSESSMENT

I. Modified True or False. Read each statement below very carefully. Write TRUE if the statement is true. If it is not, replace
the underlined word/s with the right word/s which will make the statement true or correct. Write your answer in your
notebook.

1. Intertextuality is the manner in which one text influences another.

2. Explicit reference happens when the writer refers to a different text through the use of ideas, symbols, genre or style.

3. Allusion refers to a direct reference in one text to another text, place, historical period, or author for the purpose of enriching or
developing meaning.

4.Parody refers to the writer’s imitation of another text for the purpose of exposing and discrediting one’s vice or follies.

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5. Quotation involves an indirect reference to another text, giving citation to its owner.

II. Matching Type. Match the word/s in column A with the descriptions in column B. Write the letter of your answer in your
activity notebook.

A B

1. Parody a. allows the writer to make a reworking or re- imagination of a popular text
2. appropriation b. “She is as beautiful as Venus.”
3. historical allusion c. to intermingle while weaving
4. intertexto d. used by the writer to mock its target
5. adaptation e. the act of “using or closely imitating the language and thoughts of another author
without authorization
6.quotation f. “Reflecting on her cruel behaviour, Cinderella’s
stepmother stood still like a pillar of salt.”
7. allusion g. a writer creates a film, TV drama or play based on a written work
8. mythological allusion h. “He was a Nero.”
9. plagiarism i. an indirect reference in one text to another text,
place, historical period or author
10. religious allusion j. direct referencing with acknowledgment to the original author

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