Cognitive Poetics in Practice

by Gavins,Joanna; Gavins,Joanna

• ISBN13: 9780415277990
• ISBN10: 041527799X
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2003-04-11
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Cognitive Poetics is a new way of thinking about literature, involving the application of cognitive linguistics and psychology to literary texts. This student-friendly book provides a set of case studies to help students understand the theory and master the practice of cognitive poetics in analysis. Written by a range of well-known scholars from a variety of disciplines and countries,Cognitive Poetics in Practiceoffers students a unique insight into this exciting subject. In each chapter, contributors present a practical application of the methods and techniques of cognitive poetics, to a range of texts, from Wilfred Owen to Roald Dahl. The editors' general introduction provides an overview of the field, and each chapter begins with an editors' introduction to set the chapter in context. Specifically designed sections suggesting further activities for students are also provided at the end of each case study. Cognitive Poetics in Practicecan be used on its own or as a companionvolume to Peter Stockwell'sCognitive Poetics: An Introduction. This book is critical reading for students on courses in cognitive poetics, stylistics and literary linguistics and will be of interest to all those involved in literary studies, critical theory and linguistics.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	ix
List of contributors	xi
Contextualising cognitive poetics	1	(12)
Gerard Steen
Joanna Gavins
Introduction	1	(4)
Cognitive poetics and other kinds of poetics	5	(3)
Cognitive poetics and cognitive linguistics	8	(2)
Conclusion and future prospects	10	(3)
Surreal figures	13	(14)
Peter Stockwell
Editors' preface	13	(1)
Setting the scene	13	(2)
Making figures out	15	(5)
Drawing attention: the edges of figures	20	(5)
Further activities	25	(2)
Prototypes in dynamic meaning construal	27	(14)
Raymond W. Gibbs, Jr
Editors' preface	27	(1)
Prototypes in dynamic meaning construal	27	(2)
The idea of prototypes	29	(1)
Basic-level categories	30	(1)
Problems with prototype theory	31	(1)
Are conceptual metaphors prototypes?	32	(1)
Prototypes as scripts in text understanding	33	(3)
Embodied text understanding	36	(2)
Implications	38	(2)
Further activities	40	(1)
Deixis and abstractions: adventures in space and time	41	(14)
Reuven Tsur
Editors' preface	41	(1)
Deixis and abstractions	41	(2)
Sequential and spatial processing	43	(3)
Time in poetry	46	(8)
Further activities	54	(1)
A cognitive grammar of `Hospital Barge' by Wilfred Owen	55	(12)
Craig Hamilton
Editors' preface	55	(1)
Introduction	55	(3)
Profiles in `Hospital Barge' by Wilfred Owen	58	(5)
Concluding discussion	63	(2)
Further activities	65	(2)
`Love stories': cognitive scenarios in love poetry	67	(16)
Gerard Steen
Editors' preface	67	(1)
`Love stories' and cognitive scenarios	67	(5)
From love scenarios to text content	72	(1)
Text content and text types	73	(8)
Conclusion	81	(1)
Further activities	82	(1)
Possible worlds and mental spaces in Hemingway's `A very short story'	83	(16)
Elena Semino
Editors' preface	83	(1)
Introduction	83	(1)
The text for analysis	84	(1)
Possible worlds theory and `A very short story'	85	(4)
Mental space theory and `A very short story'	89	(9)
Further activities	98	(1)
Conceptual metaphor and its expressions	99	(16)
Peter Crisp
Editors' preface	99	(1)
Concept, system and creativity	99	(6)
Metaphorical language	105	(4)
Blending	109	(3)
Further activities	112	(1)
Appendix	113	(2)
Literature as parable	115	(14)
Michael Burke
Editors' preface	115	(1)
Introduction	115	(1)
Some preliminary background	116	(1)
The cognitive process of parable	117	(2)
Literature as parable	119	(2)
A parabolic case study in literature	121	(5)
Conclusion	126	(1)
Further activities	127	(2)
Too much blague? An exploration of the text worlds of Donald Barthelme's Snow White	129	(16)
Joanna Gavins
Editors' preface	129	(1)
Introduction	129	(1)
Text World Theory	130	(2)
Snow White: A text world theory analysis	132	(10)
Conclusion	142	(1)
Further activities	143	(2)
Reading for pleasure: a cognitive poetic analysis of `twists in the tale' and other plot reversals in narrative texts	145	(16)
Catherine Emmott
Editors' preface	145	(1)
Introduction	145	(1)
Contextual frame theory and plot reversals	146	(4)
Understanding `twists in the tale' and other plot reversals	150	(8)
Conclusion	158	(1)
Further activities	159	(2)
Writingandreading: the future of cognitive poetics	161	(14)
Keith Oatley
Editors' preface	161	(1)
Writingandreading	161	(1)
Mimesis	162	(5)
Emotions, rasas, and the personal	167	(3)
The uses of literature	170	(5)
References	175	(12)
Index	187