Intertextuality
Poets often make use of allusions; that is, they make reference to another text (art, myth, story, etc.). In recent years literary theorists opted for the term “intertextuality” to refer to references between different texts.
William Blake’s poem “Song” has many intertextual references to Greek mythology. Some of these references are obvious, like naming the god Phoebus (i.e. Apollo, who is the sun-god and also the god of poetic inspiration). Other references are not as obvious, but can be inferred. For instance “the prince of love” is probably a reference to Eros (or Cupid). This seems to be an appropriate assumption as “the prince of love” can “glide” (i.e. fly); after all, Cupid does have wings.
Exercise:
Read the poems “Song”, “The Lamb”, “The Tyger” and “A Poison Tree” and try to identify different examples of allusions or intertextual references.
What do you think a “intratextual reference” is? Can you find an example from one of these poems?
William Blake’s poem “Song” has many intertextual references to Greek mythology. Some of these references are obvious, like naming the god Phoebus (i.e. Apollo, who is the sun-god and also the god of poetic inspiration). Other references are not as obvious, but can be inferred. For instance “the prince of love” is probably a reference to Eros (or Cupid). This seems to be an appropriate assumption as “the prince of love” can “glide” (i.e. fly); after all, Cupid does have wings.
Exercise:
Read the poems “Song”, “The Lamb”, “The Tyger” and “A Poison Tree” and try to identify different examples of allusions or intertextual references.
What do you think a “intratextual reference” is? Can you find an example from one of these poems?
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