Peritext in Literature & Literary Theory

Peritext: Etymology, Meanings and Concept

Peritext: Etymology/Term

The term “peritext” originates from the combination of the prefix “peri-” meaning “around” or “near” and the word “text.” Coined by French literary theorist Gérard Genette in his work “Seuils” (1987), peritext refers to the elements that surround a main text, providing contextual information and influencing the reader’s interpretation.

Meanings and Concept

• Definition: Peritext encompasses various textual elements situated around a primary text, including titles, prefaces, introductions, epigraphs, footnotes, and covers.
• Functions: Peritext serves multiple functions, such as framing the main text, guiding the reader’s expectations, providing background information, offering interpretive cues, and shaping the reception of the work.
• Distinct from Paratext: While closely related to paratext, which includes both peritext and epitext (external elements like reviews and interviews), peritext specifically refers to those textual elements physically attached to the main text itself.
• Importance in Literary Analysis: Analyzing peritextual features allows scholars to explore the textual strategies employed by authors and publishers to shape the reception and interpretation of literary works. It also sheds light on the socio-cultural context in which texts are produced and received.

Peritext: Definition of a Theoretical Term

Peritext refers to the elements surrounding a main text, providing contextual information and influencing the reader’s interpretation. These elements include titles, prefaces, introductions, epigraphs, footnotes, and covers. Peritext serves to frame the main text, guide the reader’s expectations, and shape the reception of the work.

Peritext: Theorists, Works and Arguments

• Gérard Genette: French literary theorist Gérard Genette introduced the concept of peritext in his work “Seuils” (1987), where he explores the textual elements surrounding a main text and their role in shaping the reader’s interpretation.

Works

• Seuils (1987): In this seminal work, Genette delves into the concept of peritext, examining the various textual features that surround a main text and discussing their significance in literary analysis.

Arguments

• Function of Peritext: Genette argues that peritextual elements such as titles, prefaces, and covers play a crucial role in framing the main text, guiding the reader’s expectations, and shaping the reception of the work.
• Interpretive Influence: He contends that peritextual features exert a significant influence on how readers interpret and engage with the main text, as they provide contextual information and interpretive cues that shape the reader’s understanding and reception of the work.

Peritext: Major Characteristics

• Contextual Framing: Peritext serves to frame the main text by providing contextual information such as titles, subtitles, prefaces, introductions, and epigraphs. These elements help orient the reader and set expectations for the content of the work.
• Guidance of Reader Expectations: Peritextual features guide the reader’s expectations regarding the tone, genre, themes, and style of the main text. They offer interpretive cues that shape the reader’s initial impressions and influence their reading experience.
• Shaping of Reception: Peritext plays a crucial role in shaping the reception of the work by affecting how it is perceived and interpreted by readers. Elements like covers, blurbs, and endorsements contribute to the marketing and reception of the book, influencing its reception in the literary marketplace.

Peritext: Relevance in Literary Theories

Literary Theory	Relevance of Peritext in Literary Analysis
Formalism	Peritextual elements such as titles, epigraphs, and footnotes provide valuable context for formalist analysis, aiding in the examination of structural and stylistic elements within the main text.
Reader-Response	Peritext influences the reader’s initial response to the text, shaping their expectations and interpretations. Reader-response theories consider how peritextual features affect individual readings and responses.
Postcolonial Theory	Peritext can reflect colonial power dynamics and cultural hegemony, as seen in covers, titles, and introductory materials. Postcolonial theorists analyze how peritextual elements contribute to the framing of literary works.
Feminist Theory	Peritext may contain paratextual clues regarding the author’s gender, influencing feminist interpretations of the text. Feminist theorists explore how peritextual features contribute to the gendered reception of literature.
Structuralism	Peritextual elements contribute to the overall structure of the literary work, providing contextual framing and guiding the reader’s interpretation. Structuralist theories consider how peritext interacts with the main text.
Postmodernism	Peritext challenges traditional notions of authorship and textual boundaries, blurring distinctions between text and paratext. Postmodern theorists analyze how peritextual features disrupt narrative conventions and meaning-making.
Psychoanalytic Theory	Peritextual elements may contain latent symbolic meanings and subconscious influences, enriching psychoanalytic interpretations of the text. Psychoanalytic theorists explore how peritext shapes reader expectations and desires.
Marxism	Peritextual features may reflect economic and ideological forces, such as publishing decisions and marketing strategies. Marxist critics examine how peritext contributes to the commodification and circulation of literature.
New Historicism	Peritext provides historical context and situates the text within broader cultural, social, and political frameworks. New Historicist theorists analyze how peritextual elements intersect with historical narratives and power dynamics.
Queer Theory	Peritextual elements may contain queer subtext and references, influencing queer interpretations of the text. Queer theorists explore how peritextual features contribute to the construction of sexual identities and narratives.

Peritext: Application in Critiques

1. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
2. Cover Design: Analyzing the cover design of The Catcher in the Rye, which often features a lone figure against a backdrop of urban scenery, sheds light on the novel’s themes of isolation and alienation. The cover serves as peritext, framing the reader’s initial impressions and expectations of the protagonist’s journey.
3. Epigraphs and Chapter Titles: Examining the epigraphs and chapter titles provides insights into the novel’s motifs and thematic concerns. These peritextual elements guide the reader’s interpretation and enhance their understanding of Holden Caulfield’s existential struggles and search for authenticity.
4. Beloved by Toni Morrison
5. Preface or Introduction: Critically analyzing the preface or introduction to Beloved offers contextual framing for Morrison’s narrative choices and thematic intentions. The peritextual elements provide historical and cultural background, enriching the reader’s understanding of the novel’s exploration of trauma, memory, and identity.
6. Blurbs and Endorsements: Investigating the blurbs and endorsements on the book cover reveals the novel’s reception and cultural significance. Peritextual features such as reviews and accolades shape the reader’s expectations and contribute to the novel’s reception within the literary community.
7. The Road by Cormac McCarthy
8. Title and Cover Art: Analyzing the stark title and minimalist cover art of The Road highlights the novel’s themes of survival, desolation, and the human condition. Peritextual elements such as the title and cover design evoke a sense of foreboding and set the tone for McCarthy’s post-apocalyptic narrative.
   1. Dedication: Exploring the dedication page may provide clues to the author’s personal motivations or thematic influences. Peritextual features such as dedications offer glimpses into the author-reader relationship and enrich the reader’s engagement with the text.
9. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
10. Introduction or Preface: Critiquing the introduction or preface to Pride and Prejudice illuminates Austen’s narrative intentions and socio-cultural context. Peritextual elements provide insights into Austen’s satirical commentary on marriage, class, and gender roles in Regency-era England.
11. Edition and Publication History: Examining different editions and publication histories of Pride and Prejudice reveals changes in peritextual features over time. Comparative analysis of peritextual elements sheds light on the evolving reception and interpretation of Austen’s classic novel.

Peritext: Relevant Terms

Theoretical Term	Description
Paratext	Elements surrounding a main text, including peritext and epitext.
Metatext	Text that refers to or comments on another text.
Hypertext	Text organized in a nonlinear manner, often with hyperlinks.
Epitext	Elements outside of the main text, such as reviews or interviews.
Intertextuality	Relationship between texts, influencing interpretation and meaning.
Transmedia Storytelling	Narrative that unfolds across multiple media platforms.
Exotext	External context or influences that affect the interpretation of a text.
Endotext	Textual elements within the main body of a work.
Metanarrative	Grand narrative that encompasses or comments on other narratives.
Paraliterature	Literary works that exist alongside or in relation to canonical texts.

Peritext: Suggested Readings

1. Genette, Gérard. Paratexts: Thresholds of Interpretation. Translated by Jane E. Lewin, Cambridge University Press, 1997.
2. —. Seuils. Editions du Seuil, 1987.
3. —. The Architext: An Introduction. Translated by Jane E. Lewin, University of California Press, 1992.
4. —. The Work of Art: Immanence and Transcendence. Translated by G. M. Goshgarian, Cornell University Press, 1997.
5. —. Paratexts: Thresholds of Interpretation. Translated by Jane E. Lewin, Cambridge University Press, 1997.