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Intertextuality - GCSE English Language Definition

Reviewed by: Nick Redgrove

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In GCSE English, intertextuality is the way one text refers to, echoes, or is influenced by another. Writers often include ideas, themes, or styles from other texts—such as prose, poetry, or historical sources—to add deeper meaning or context to their own work. This can happen through direct quotes, similar characters or storylines, or shared themes and messages. Recognising intertextuality can help you understand how texts are connected and how writers build on existing ideas. It also allows for a deeper interpretation of themes and helps students see how literature fits into a wider cultural or historical context.

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Nick Redgrove

Reviewer: Nick Redgrove

Expertise: English Senior Content Creator

Nick is a graduate of the University of Cambridge and King’s College London. He started his career in journalism and publishing, working as an editor on a political magazine and a number of books, before training as an English teacher. After nearly 10 years working in London schools, where he held leadership positions in English departments and within a Sixth Form, he moved on to become an examiner and education consultant. With more than a decade of experience as a tutor, Nick specialises in English, but has also taught Politics, Classical Civilisation and Religious Studies.

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