3. Foster discusses the “dialogue between…texts.” He refers to this as “intertextuality.” What is the significance, value, and effect of this textual connection? How does it inform and enhance our reading experiences? Is intertextuality intentional or serendipitous? How does it operate? How might it relate to the “one big story?” How might it relate to archetypes, symbols? When have you noticed intertextuality at work in the “real” world? What is the “mythic level?” →
Intertextuality can be either serendipitous or intentional; its significance is determined by how the author is incorporating the reference and its value is set by the awareness of the reader within the author’s purpose of including the textual reference. Intertextuality can be intentional to display ethos appeals for the author, show that they are included in the current literary circle or to create a stance on another statement. For example, Thomas Paine referenced other biblical and political works in his revolutionary and controversial work, Common Sense, to create his stance on American independence from the reign of Great Britain during the Revolutionary Era. On the other hand, there is the potential for intertextuality to be serendipitous as explained in chapters five and six in which the author may unconsciously, or unintentionally, connect familiar works. Throughout all levels of schooling, teachers have preached ad nauseam that the only way to improve one’s writing ability is by exposure to more literature and this circumstance definitely is at play in the argument for intertextual serendipity.
This connectivity, whether intentional or serendipitous, allows for the development and comprehension of literary archetypes, which provides the syllabus and assignments for courses such as Advanced Placement Literature. From this understanding, we, as the audience, grow to understand the historical and contextual points of the piece that add a sense of reward and satisfaction. The mythic level of intertextuality is reached when the reader draws the same connection as the author, which is described Foster as “a reader’s imagination is the act of one creative intelligence engaging another (the writer’s).”
While these kinds of powerful works do make up the syllabi for college and AP courses, I don't think that's why people write these kinds of works. I believe the artist has something important to say about the world, about humanity. And we read because we want to tap into that important something. It draws us all together in the great scheme of things.
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