Possible Worlds Theory and Readers' Emotional Responses to Literature
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Description
This book develops a cognitive stylistic exploration of readers' emotional experiences of literature.
Adopting Possible Worlds Theory as a framework, the volume constructs a stylistic analysis of some of the ways in which novels elicit readers' emotions. A typology of past, present, and future textual actual and possible worlds is formulated to frame analysis of three novels: A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry (2006 [1995]), Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates (2007 [1961]), and The Trick is to Keep Breathing (1999 [1989]) by Janice Galloway. The analysis of these diverse 20th-century novels works to show the utility of the typology for analysis formulated for this book, as well as to demonstrate the value of incorporating empirical reader data in analysis of the ways in which novels may affect readers' emotions.
The work enhances the utility of Possible Worlds Theory to stylistics by providing an enriched, temporally segmented conceptualisation of textual actual and possible worlds which, when used as a frame for analysis, helps to illuminate some of the ways in which novels affect readers' emotions.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Possible Worlds Theory
3. The Study of Readers' Emotions
4. A Temporally Framed Typology for the Stylistic Analysis of Textual Actual and Possible Worlds and Readers' Emotions
5. Methodology
6. Sadness, Sympathy and Hope: Counterfactual Textual Worlds in A Fine Balance
7. Shock, Disapproval and Hopelessness: Future Textual Possible Worlds, Past Textual Actual Worlds and Past Textual Possible Worlds in A Fine Balance
8. Dislike, Anger, Doubt and Discomfort: Counterfactual Textual Worlds and Future Textual Possible Worlds in Revolutionary Road
9. Sympathy, Empathy and Sadness: Past Textual Actual Worlds and Past Textual Possible Worlds in Revolutionary Road
10. Empathy, Sympathy, Sadness and Claustrophobic Discomfort: The Current Textual Actual World in The Trick is to Keep Breathing
11. Concern, Frustration, Hope and Happiness: Future Textual Possible Worlds in The Trick is to Keep Breathing
12. Conclusion
References
Index
Product details
| Published | 18 Sep 2025 |
|---|---|
| Format | Ebook (Epub & Mobi) |
| Edition | 1st |
| Extent | 272 |
| ISBN | 9781350428959 |
| Imprint | Bloomsbury Academic |
| Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing |
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