The Concept of Literary Application: Readers' Analogies from Text to Life - Hardcover

Pettersson, Anders

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1137035412 ISBN 13: 9781137035417

Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan, 2012

Synopsis

Through the performance of application readers connect the literary text with the world, focusing on elements in the text and comparing them with elements of the external world as they know it, an operation with both cognitive and emotional consequences. Drawing on literary, philosophical, and psychological insights, and also on literary examples and empirical studies of readers, Pettersson demonstrates how and why this simple and comparatively neglected mechanism is of profound and many-sided importance for the understanding of literary art and literary experience. This book contains in-depth discussions of a number of key critical issues, like the cognitive importance of literature; empathy; literature and aesthetics; and such notions as 'text' and 'literature'.

About this title

Review:

'In this lucid and insightful book, Anders Pettersson argues that using fiction to understand life ('application') is a deeply important part of literary experience. He goes on to provide a thought-provoking explanation of why and how this is the case. This nuanced theoretical work - one of the best I have read in years - will be of great interest to anyone who cares about the value of literature.' - Professor Patrick Hogan, University of Connecticut, USA
 
'Engaging with an exceptionally wide range of positions in literary theory, philosophical aesthetics, and psychology, Anders Pettersson presents an approach to literature that stresses literature's relevance to readers' lives. His informative views on major issues in literary theory merit the attention of anyone who cares about literature.' - Paisley Livingston, Chair Professor and Head of Philosophy, Lingnan University, Hong Kong

Book Description:

Readers of literature must of necessity compare literary text and real life. The author explains how such application works and argues for its profound relevance for literary experience

About this edition

• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 1137035412
• ISBN 13: 9781137035417
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 258