IBDP Intertextuality

Intertextuality in the IBDP English curriculum refers to how texts interact with or reference each other, revealing deeper meanings through these connections. By analyzing intertextuality, students explore the relationship between texts and how they draw upon prior works to enrich themes, characterizations, or narratives. Here are some key types of intertextuality with examples:

Examples

1. Direct Reference or Allusion. In The Waste Land by T.S. Eliot, there are direct references to Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and the work of Dante. Eliot uses these references to highlight themes of despair and renewal, adding depth to his modernist vision of cultural collapse.
2. Parody or Pastiche: Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys is a postcolonial rewrite of Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. Rhys takes the story of Bertha Mason, the “madwoman in the attic,” and retells it from her perspective, creating a new narrative that critiques colonialism and patriarchal oppression.
3. Retelling or Reimagining: The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood is a reimagining of Homer’s The Odyssey from the perspective of Penelope. This allows readers to view the events of the classic epic through a feminist lens, reconsidering the roles of women in ancient Greek narratives.
4. Quotation and Influence: The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood draws on the Bible for many of its quotations and structures, such as the character of Rachel and the references to Gilead, creating a dystopian vision of a theocratic state where religious texts are manipulated to justify oppression.
5. Genre Connection: 1984 by George Orwell and Brave New World by Aldous Huxley are often studied together as intertextual examples of dystopian literature. Both texts explore totalitarianism and the control of society, but they approach these themes from different angles—Orwell focuses on repression and surveillance, while Huxley explores pleasure and manipulation.
6. Adaptation: Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare has inspired various adaptations, such as the musical West Side Story, which shifts the setting to New York and replaces the feuding families with rival gangs. The core themes of love and conflict remain, but the context shifts to reflect contemporary social issues.
7. Intertextual Themes: Both Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and The Island of Doctor Moreau by H.G. Wells explore themes of creation, ethics, and the consequences of playing God. Analyzing these texts intertextually helps students understand how authors across different periods grapple with similar moral questions.
8. Influence of Mythology or Folklore: The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller reinterprets the events of The Iliad from the perspective of Achilles’ lover, Patroclus. It draws heavily on Greek mythology but reshapes the narrative to highlight LGBTQ+ themes and a modern understanding of love and heroism.
9. Cultural and Historical Intertextuality: The Crucible by Arthur Miller is often compared with the McCarthy trials during the 1950s, drawing an intertextual parallel between the Salem witch trials and the Red Scare. This historical intertextuality adds layers to Miller’s critique of hysteria and the abuse of power.
10. Homage or Influence: In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s writing is influenced by the works of T.S. Eliot and Joseph Conrad. The themes of disillusionment and the moral decay of society that are present in Heart of Darkness find resonance in Fitzgerald’s portrayal of the American Dream.

More Examples

Macbeth vs Hamlet

1. Tragic heroes with fatal flaws.
2. Themes of power and ambition.
3. Supernatural elements (ghosts, witches).
4. Madness.
5. Revenge plots.
6. The burden of guilt.
7. Conflict between appearance and reality.
8. Manipulation and betrayal.
9. Soliloquies revealing inner turmoil.
10. Tragic ending.

The Great Gatsby vs Death of a Salesman

1. Critique of the American Dream.
2. Illusion vs. reality.
3. The pursuit of wealth.
4. Disillusionment.
5. Failure of dreams.
6. Tragic protagonists.
7. Class struggle.
8. Social mobility.
9. Family conflicts.
10. Use of symbolism (green light, seeds).

Frankenstein Vs Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

1. Duality of human nature.
2. Science and its consequences.
3. Themes of identity.
4. Fear of the unknown.
5. Creation vs. destruction
6. Alienation and isolation.
7. Gothic horror.
8. Transformation.
9. Ethical implications of scientific pursuit
10. Tragic downfall of protagonists.

Things Fall Apart Vs Heart of Darkness

1. Colonialism and its effects.
2. Clash between cultures.
3. Themes of power and control.
4. Moral ambiguity.
5. Resistance to colonization.
6. Masculinity and leadership.
7. Loss of cultural identity.
8. Psychological impact of imperialism.
9. The “othering” of native cultures.
10. Destruction of traditional societies.

Beloved Vs The Color Purple

1. Legacy of slavery.
2. Generational trauma.
3. Female empowerment.
4. Themes of race and gender.
5. Physical and emotional abuse.
6. Spirituality and healing.
7. Motherhood and family bonds.
8. Overcoming oppression.
9. Self-discovery.
10. Violence and survival.

The Handmaid’s Tale Vs 1984

1. Dystopian control.
2. Loss of individual identity.
3. State surveillance.
4. Rebellion against oppression.
5. Manipulation of language.
6. Gender and power.
7. The destruction of personal freedom.
8. Forbidden relationships.
9. Themes of fear and submission.
10. The role of propaganda.

These are a few samples, focusing only on the themes in two different works.