Intertextuality-The Raven

Throughout my years of English in high school, I had two different teachers who showed a Simpson’s clip in class in order to show an example of a literary element. In one particular clip of the Simpson’s, Homer acts out a very famous poem by Edgar Allan Poe. The Raven, read by most people in high school depicts almost a gloomy setting about a student who is slowing going into madness after the loss of his lover named Lenore. The man who seems to be a student although really unknown, sits reading “forgotten lore” in his chamber in order to try to forget his love. While reading, he hears a rapping at his door and when he opens it finds nothing. While the student is sitting in his room, he continuously hears a tapping and when he opens the window and finds a raven, he hears the bird only saying “nevermore”. He then begins to hear the same tapping but a little louder by his window. When he goes it his window to investigate, a raven steps into his chamber. The man is shocked by the fact that the raven can speak and demands that the bird tells him its name. However, the raven only responded with “nevermore”. The man then figures at that the raven only learned one word from his depressed master which was “nevermore”. Finally, the man feels as if the raven is trapping him within his darkness after trying to get the bird to answer his questions. As the poem comes to a close, the man feels like he will be left in this darkness and “shall be lifted out nevermore”. Poem wrote this poem in order to both show critical and popular tastes. However, in the Simpsons, the main reason for them having this poem incorportate in the episode is to give their Halloween story a little more meaning and to somewhat entertain their audience with a different kind of taste. The Simpsons as well as a number of other shows are known for having intertextuality within them. Many times it helps them get a point across or to either create some humor and history within a scene. With these intertextual references, it can be easier for people to relate to as well as have a better understanding of what the author is trying to draw out. Intertextuality may not always work, but many ways it can be beneficial to the audience as well as the author. In the Simpson’s clip of the Raven, I feel like they do a good job of depicting the poem and acting it out. It allows the audience to have a better understanding what Poe was trying to say in a funnier atmosphere.