Transtextuality in the Novel The Red Manes Mare by Mahmoud Dowlatabadi

Abstract

The Red Manes Mare is a novel written in Persian about the life of Imru' al-Qais, one of the most famous poets of the Arab world. Based on Gérard Genette's theory of transtextuality, this study used a descriptive-analytical approach to explain the types of text relations. The results show that the novel The Red Manes Mare is an example of transtextual texts that have consciously linked with various ranges of Arabic texts. Using Gérard Genette's theory, these texts create a semantic system that includes relationships between intertextuality, hypertextuality, architextuality, and paratextuality. On the basis of intertextuality, it was determined that some historical texts which have some connection to Imru' al-Qais' life have been rewritten in the novel. It has been demonstrated through quantitative and pragmatic analysis that some parts of the story and main contexts have been modified in comparison to hypertexts. The novel style is characterized by the interaction between different types of literature. There is also a final note that contains paratextual elements.

Keywords

• transtextuality
• intertextuality
• hypertextuality
• architextuality
• paratextuality