Intertextual references as a part of the vertical context of modern Northern Irish novels

Abstract

The aim of the paper is to determine the most frequent elements of the vertical context in Northern Irish novels expressed by intertextual references. The study is original in that it is the first to analyse the ratio of different intertextual reference types, as well as to identify the main types of intertextual references in modern Northern Irish literature, which has not been fully examined from this perspective. The paper considers referents related to socio-historical events, geographical names, mythology and culture. The analysis of the vertical context allowed identifying the names of Northern Irish and Irish cities, districts and streets in Belfast, the names of historical events, as well as the proper names denoting Irish mythological figures. As a result, 3 groups of intertextual referents were highlighted: geographical, historical, mythological. The results showed that intertextual references contain the extralinguistic information relevant to understanding and interpreting the main ideas and messages of the novels.