Relating to the relationships and connections between different texts, where one text references, echoes, or builds upon another. It suggests that no text exists in isolation but is part of a web of textual relationships.
Coined in the 1960s by literary theorist Julia Kristeva, combining 'inter' meaning 'between' with 'textual.' The concept revolutionized literary theory by suggesting that all texts are mosaics of other texts, challenging ideas of originality and authorship.
Intertextuality reveals that every text is like a conversation with all the texts that came before it - authors can't help but echo, respond to, or argue with previous works. It's like discovering that literature is one giant, ongoing group chat spanning centuries, where every new work adds to the conversation.
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