The Interplay of Texts: A Study of Intertextuality

Abstract

This study aims to present a concise theoretical exploration of intertextuality, introducing a cognitive perspective on the concept. While literary scholars have extensively explored intertextuality through the lens of textual relationships, less emphasis has been placed on the active role of readers in forming these connections. This research traces the origins of intertextuality back to early textual discussions in antiquity, offering a brief theoretical overview.  Intertextuality generally understood as a  network of relationships between a text and other texts or discourses across cultural and intellectual contexts, challenges traditional ideas of influence, authorship, and text boundaries. The theory was conceptualized by Ferdinand de Saussure, Mikhail Bakhtin, and Roland Barthes, with the term being introduced by Julia Kristeva.