A Semio-Intertextual Approach to The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak (2010)

Abstract

This dissertation presents a new approach, semio-intertextuality, to analyse a novel entitled The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak (2010). This qualitative approach aims to highlight the systems of semiotic signs and of absent and intertwined texts that the author has used in her novel, including the signs that are concretised in the characters, the title, the cover, and the chronotope structure. Besides, this work of analysis is done through different narrative techniques adopted in the new contemporary novel. It made it possible to identify and analyse two main narrative characters: the first historically represents Jalal Din Rumi, as for the second fictitiously manifests Ella Rubinstein. Furthermore, semio-intertextuality illustrates the interrelationships between the previous and present texts of the novel, reflecting the system of human values through polyphony, which helps to enshrine the principle of dialogue between different cultures and civilisations. Finally, semio-intertextual approach results in deconstructing and decoding the structure of the literary work, providing new insights and efficient reading of The Forty Rules of Love in particular and novels in general