Intertextuality and Autointertextuality as a Means of Conceptualization of the Author’s World Perception

Abstract

Postmodern writings stand out with vivid intertextuality. To study postmodern literary texts ignoring intertextual ties or intertexts would mean to do a vain study. In the given article it is suggested to carry out conceptual analysis of literary texts from the perspectives of intertextuality and autointertextuality. As an example can serve the conceptual analysis of the concept ‘’smile’’ in J.Fowles’ novel ‘’The Magus’’. J.Fowles is an outstanding British writer whose writings have deep psychological and philosophical ideology which can have a great impact on different generations. He touches upon such issues as ‘’love’’, ‘’freedom’’, ‘’ death’’, ‘’isolation’’ and so on. Freedom is reflected nearly in all his writings from various aspects. The novel ‘’The Magus’’ is no exception. The conceptual analysis on this novel will help the investigator to study J. Fowles’ unique individual perception of the world The conceptual analysis of the concept ‘’smile’’ is essential first of all in the sense that only due to the profound understanding of this concept in the novel ‘’The Magus’’ the reader will be able to decode the message of the novel completely. Actually the key concept of ‘’The Magus’’ is ‘’freedom’’. However, only deep understanding of the concept ‘’smile’’ will allow the reader to perceive the ‘’freedom’’. The study reveals that according to J. Fowles in order to be truly free man should ‘’learn to smile’’, but in a specific sense, they should have a smile that is full of good metaphysical good humour like in a dramatic irony, which itself is a manifestation of freedom.