WALTER MOERS’ LITERARY GAMES: PRECEDENT NAMES AND THEIR ROLE IN CREATING INTERTEXTUALITY

Abstract

The article examines the role of precedent names in Walter Moers’ novel The City of Dreaming Books, focusing on the mechanisms of intertextuality constructed through anagrams, charactonyms, and allusions to canonical figures of German literature. Particular emphasis is placed on the challenges of decoding precedent names, which necessitate substantial background knowledge in literary and cultural studies. The study highlights the multilayered nature of the text’s reception, enabled by its intricate intertextual references, which cater to diverse reader groups—ranging from those engaging with the narrative at a surface level to those undertaking a deeper analysis of its literary allusions. The findings suggest that precedent names in Moers’ novel serve not only to create an ironic subtext but also to establish a sophisticated network of intertextual connections, positioning the work as a unique synthesis of mass and intellectual literature. This interplay positions the novel as a distinctive hybrid that transcends conventional boundaries between mass-market entertainment and highbrow literary art.