Intertextuality · English Literature

What is the primary difference between 'allusion' and 'intertextuality' in postmodern theory?

  1. Allusion is unintentional and accidental, while intertextuality is always a deliberate authorial choice
  2. Allusion is a specific reference, while intertextuality refers to the broader interconnectedness of all texts
  3. Intertextuality applies only to films and visual media, while allusion is confined to written literature
  4. Allusion is a postmodern coinage, whereas intertextuality is a term rooted in classical rhetoric
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Correct answer: Allusion is a specific reference, while intertextuality refers to the broader interconnectedness of all texts

While an allusion is a deliberate nod to a specific work, intertextuality is a systemic condition of language. It suggests that even without the author's intent, the meaning of a text is shaped by the presence of other texts in the reader's consciousness.

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