Written at the start of the cognitive turn, combines cognitive psychology with literary theory, anthropology, and sociology to show how the human mind works imaginatively in the “narrative mode.”
A complex but essential work that re-conceives of narratology as “natural,” that is, experiential and shaped by the cognitive frames that structure what we perceive around us.
Review by Eva von Contzen
Drawing specially on conceptual blending theory, Dancygier looks at cognition and language to discern how we make meaning through stories.
Joins literary criticism, linguistics, and cognitive science to show that a narrative is not only a mode of discourse but also a cognitive resource for making meaning.
Uses cognitive poetics and psychonarratology to explain how the processes of oral performance of Mark’s Gospel have emotional effects and shape the identity of those who hear.
Builds on the link between cognitive science and literary theory to investigate how cross-cultural patterns in storytelling bear on the expression of human emotions.
Combines narratology and cognitive science to present a model for describing the structuring and comprehension of narrative, and for sketching the formation and development of ancient storytelling.
An international group of scholars applies cognitive theories to classical texts, also recruiting insights from linguistics, literary theory, social practices, performance, artificial intelligence and archaeology.
Joins literary theory, artificial intelligence, and possible worlds theory to explore how we rely on our experience of the actual world to construct fictional worlds.
Proposes a cognitive theory of the dynamics of the reception of characters. Although the focus of the book is on the Victorian novel, the results are highly applicable to ancient narratives as well. For those who do not speak German, this essay provides a concise summary and update of Ralf’s approach.
Clear and accessible explanation of elements and movements in cognitive literary theory.
Recruits cognitive science and linguistics to argue that literary thinking is basic to every-day thinking, and that story and parable (the projection of a story) explain the every-day reasoning by which we make sense of the world.
Makes advances to reader-response criticism by using cognitive science and evolutionary biology to illuminate the relationship between texts and readers, and to explain why and how we respond to stories.
