Review Chapters 4, 6, 7 & 8 from How to Read Literature Like a Professor and define intertextuality. Give three examples from The Alchemist and discuss their significance.

Critics often refer to the links between literary works and texts as ‘intertextuality’. According to Foster, when a reader can recognize patterns and/or similarities within a text then the reading experience is significantly improved and the multiple layers of meaning revealed. Intertextuality can also be used to challenge reader expectations; Foster describes how author Angela Carter in her novel Wise Children (1992) uses characters that are highly nostalgic of Shakespearean characters, but as the novel progresses, behave in ways that challenge traditional Shakespeare plotlines. The author draws on earlier texts but also uses this as a literary strategy to affect the reading experience and expectation. Understanding intertextuality and how to use it in analysis of literature is a very useful skill to have, and one that is steadily developed over time through practice, extensive reading, and knowing what one should be looking for. While this isn't crucial to enjoy a work of literature, it nonetheless allows for a deeper understanding of how complex and rich a story can be.

Dol’s line in Act 3, Scene 3, “Yes, say lord General, how fares our camp?” is a quote from Thomas Kyd’s play The Spanish Tragedy, again demonstrating the intertextuality of The Alchemist.