The winter of our discontent

 
 
Conclusion 
 
The
 
conducted research
 
has led to the following conclusions. The treatment of 
references and quotations as two forms of allusion marker has enabled us to get a 
clearer picture of their functioning in literary discourse, to see differences and 
similarities between them. The analysis of Steinbeck's “The Winter of Our 
Discontent” supports the argument that allusion is the central manifestation of 
intertextuality and one of the means contributing to the polyphony of a literary work. 
This study has also revealed the main functions of allusions in literary discourse. In 
the given novel they are used for characterization, to produce ironic and humorous 
effects, to create a certain atmosphere or setting, to structure the narrative, to 
introduce and develop the theme of a literary work, to generalize the plot. Shared 
background knowledge as an inseparable component of the alluding process, makes 
allusion an essential instrument in writer-reader interaction. In all their variety 
allusions allow the readers to penetrate deeper into the polyphonous world of the 
given novel, the complex inner and outer existence of its characters. 
 
 
References 
Ben-Porat, Ziva. 1976. 
The Poetics of Literary Allusion
. PTL. 1:106–128.
Hebel, Udo J. 1969. 
Intertextuality. Allusion and Quotation: An International 
Bibliography of Critical Studies.
New-York; London: Greenwood Press.
McCarthy, Paul. 1980. John Steinbeck. New-York: Ungar. 
Perri, Carmela. 1979. 
An International Annotated Bibliography of Allusion 
Studies. Style
13(2): 178–225. 
Steinbeck, John, 1985. 
The Winter of Our Discontent
. Moskwa: Vysshaia 
Skola. 
Steinbeck, John and Wallsten, Robert. 1975. 
Steinbeck: A Life in Letters.
New-York: The Viking Press. 
Watt, Frank William. 1962. Steinbeck. Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd. 
UDC 81’373.612.2 

---

Document Outline

• ALLUSIONS IN LITERARY DISCOURSE
• (BASED ON THE NOVEL “THE WINTER OF OUR DISCONTENT” BY J. STEINBECK)
• Received March, 3, 2019; Accepted May, 4, 2019