Are there intertextual text passages in the work of John Sladek's "Roderick or The Education of a Young Machine" and what are their dominant characteristics? To answer this question, there is a general, theoretical introduction to the topic of intertextuality. Subsequently, a model of intertextual analysis will be presented which will serve as the basis for my methodological investigation. Thereafter, in chapter four, the analysis of exemplary text passages follows. In the last chapter the author will answer the research question and explain my findings.
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
2. THEORY OF INTERTEXTUALITY
2.1. Global Model of Post-structuralism
2.2. Structuralist or Hermeneutic Model
2.3. Model of Broich and Pfister
2.3.1. Qualitative Criteria
2.3.2. Quantitative Criteria
3. METHOD
4. ANALYIS
4.1. Roderick in Wonderland – Qualitative Analysis
4.2. A Robot in Wooden Shoes: between Pinocchio and Roderick – Qualitative Analysis
4.3. Quantitative Analysis
5. CONCLUSION
Research Objective and Topics
This paper aims to investigate the existence and characteristics of intertextual references within John Sladek’s novel "Roderick or The Education of a Young Machine," using the analytical framework of Manfred Pfister and Ulrich Broich to categorize and evaluate these references.
- Theoretical concepts of intertextuality (Post-structuralism vs. Structuralism).
- Qualitative criteria for assessing intertextual intensity.
- Comparative analysis of "Roderick" with "Alice in Wonderland" and "Pinocchio."
- Quantitative density and distribution of references throughout the novel.
Excerpt from the Book
4.1. Roderick in Wonderland – Qualitative Analysis
In the first chapter of the book is a passage that is worth analysing for its intertextual meaning. So far, Roderick only exists virtually, so his thoughts are presented in the form of a written document, like a log, since he cannot yet articulate them.
‘There a like [sic] they both have some syllables more than one. There a like [sic] because one is like a bird and theres [sic] a bird called a secretary and the other is like a furniture and theres [sic] a furniture called a secretary too. Or may be [sic] they both have quills which are like old pens. […] There a like [sic] because otherwise you would not ask me why. Or there a like [sic] because there both in the same riddle –‘ (Sladek 11)
Most readers will be familiar with the riddle of a piece of furniture and a bird. It should therefore be examined whether and to what extent an intertextual reference between this passage of Sladek's book and Alice in Wonderland, by Lewis Caroll, is present.
Summary of Chapters
1. INTRODUCTION: Outlines the significance of intertextuality in literary studies and introduces John Sladek’s "Roderick" as the primary object of study regarding its intertextual nature.
2. THEORY OF INTERTEXTUALITY: Provides a theoretical overview of different intertextual models, specifically focusing on the post-structuralist view and the structuralist approach of Pfister and Broich.
3. METHOD: Details the application of qualitative and quantitative criteria established by Broich and Pfister to examine intertextual references within the selected text passages.
4. ANALYIS: Examines specific references to "Alice in Wonderland" and "Pinocchio," followed by a quantitative overview of the density and range of allusions in the novel.
5. CONCLUSION: Summarizes the findings, noting that while specific references show high intensity in referentiality and structure, they lack strong autoreflexivity and dialogicity.
Keywords
Intertextuality, John Sladek, Roderick, Post-structuralism, Manfred Pfister, Ulrich Broich, Qualitative Analysis, Quantitative Analysis, Pinocchio, Alice in Wonderland, Artificial Life, Literary Studies, Dialogicity, Structuralism, Metacommunication.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic paper?
The paper examines the presence and specific characteristics of intertextual references in John Sladek’s novel "Roderick or The Education of a Young Machine."
Which theoretical framework is utilized to analyze the intertextuality?
The author employs the model developed by Manfred Pfister and Ulrich Broich, which divides intertextual criteria into qualitative and quantitative dimensions.
What is the main research question of this study?
The central question is whether there are identifiable intertextual passages in Sladek’s work and what the dominant characteristics of these references are.
What literary works are primarily compared to "Roderick"?
The analysis focuses heavily on the intertextual connections between "Roderick" and Lewis Carroll’s "Alice in Wonderland" as well as Carlo Collodi’s "Pinocchio."
How is the quantitative analysis conducted?
The quantitative analysis evaluates the density, frequency, and range of pretexts (allusions to myths, science, politics, and literature) across the two books of the novel.
What are the key qualitative criteria used in the research?
The key criteria include referentiality, communicativeness, autoreflexivity, structurality, selectivity, and dialogicity.
Why is the reference to "Pinocchio" considered structurally intense?
The "Pinocchio" reference is considered intense because the plot parallels between the two works span more than a third of the novel, involving similar character trajectories and themes of degradation.
What conclusion does the author reach regarding autoreflexivity?
The author concludes that autoreflexivity is very weak or absent in the analyzed passages, as there is little evidence of the text explicitly thematizing its own intertextuality.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Lukas Oehmke (Autor:in), 2020, Intertextual References in "Roderick or The Education of a Young Machine" by John Sladek, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/934310
