The Role of Semiotics, Hermeneutics, Intertextuality, and Deconstruction in Understanding the Reproduction of Poetic Meaning

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the role of four major modern critical approaches—semiotics, hermeneutics, intertextuality, and deconstruction—in understanding how poetic meanings are reproduced. The study is based on the assumption that poetic meaning is not fixed but rather emerges from a complex interaction between the text, the reader, and the cultural context. The research adopts a descriptive-analytical method through a review of modern critical literature. The findings indicate that these approaches contribute to revealing the dynamic nature of poetic meaning: semiotics analyzes signs, hermeneutics reconstructs meaning through the reader, intertextuality connects texts to one another, and deconstruction exposes the multiplicity and instability of meanings. In addition, the study demonstrates that these approaches do not function in isolation but rather complement one another in providing a more comprehensive understanding of poetic discourse. Semiotic analysis uncovers the structural and symbolic dimensions of the text, while hermeneutic inquiry situates interpretation within a continuum of historical and cultural horizons. Intertextuality expands the analytical scope by tracing the presence of other texts within the poetic fabric, and deconstruction critically interrogates the limits of coherence by revealing internal tensions and ambiguities.
The study also highlights the shifting role of the reader in modern criticism, emphasizing that interpretation is an active, productive process. The reader engages with the text not only to decode meaning but also to participate in its continual reconstruction. This participatory role reinforces the idea that meaning is contingent, context-dependent, and subject to change across different interpretive communities. Furthermore, the research underscores the importance of cultural context as a dynamic framework that shapes both the production and reception of poetic texts. Cultural codes, historical references, and ideological frameworks all contribute to the plurality of meanings that a poem can generate. As such, poetic meaning becomes an open-ended process that evolves over time, adapting to new readings and perspectives. Ultimately, the study concludes that the integration of these modern critical approaches provides a richer and more nuanced model for understanding poetry. It affirms that poetic texts are not closed systems but living structures of meaning, continually renewed through interpretation, dialogue, and cultural engagement.