Character Constellations in Cognitive and Empirical Literary Studies

Ralf Schneider is full professor and chair of English Literature and Co-director of the Aachen Center for Cognitive and Empirical Literary Studies (ACCELS) at RWTH Aachen University, Germany.

• List of Figures List of Table Acknowledgements Foreword Why Another Approach to Literary Character, and Why Does It Have to Be “Integrative”?1 An Integrative Approach to Complex Narrative Engagement1.1 The Complexity of Narrative Engagement and the Centrality of Character Constellations 1.2 The Place of Character Engagement in a Multidisciplinary Field of Studies and the Necessity of an Integrative Cognitive Approach 1.3 The Challenge of Integrating Theories, Methodologies, and Methods in the Study of Narrative and Character Engagement 1.4 The Structure of this Book 2 Three Dimensions of Engagement with Character Constellations: Embodiment, Shared Conceptualisations, and Discourse Processing 2.1 Readerly Engagement and a Three- Dimensions Model of Literary Reading 2.2 Dimension A: Experientialities 2.2.1 Social Experientiality in Image Schemas, Force Dynamics, and Conceptual Metaphors 2.2.2 Social Experientiality in Embodied and Enactive Reading 2.3 Dimension B: Shared Conceptualisations and Evaluations of Character Constellations 2.4 Dimension C: Abstract Knowledge – Schemata of Sociality 2.5 Between Resonance and Recognition 3 Multiplicity as a Feature of Narrative and Mind: The One and the Many 3.1 The Human Mind and the Novel are Fundamentally “Interpersonal” 3.2 Aspects of Multiplicity and Relationality in Literary Scholarship 3.3 Reader Cognition and Multiplicity: A First Glance 4 Multiple- Character Scenarios (MSCs) in Narrative Engagement 4.1 Why Character Multiplicity Is Not a Problem but Still Requires an Explanation 4.2 Spatial Mappings and Networks: The Topology of MCSs 4.2.1 The MCS Has Spatial Depth 4.2.2 MCSs Are Composed by Local Networks 4.3 The Quality of Character Links: Mimetic, Thematic, and Synthetics Aspects of MCSs 4.4 Fore- and Backgrounding Dynamics: Shifting Presences in the MCS 4.5 Summary: The Multiple- Character Scenario as a Socio- Literary Affordance Gestalt 5 The Involved Observer: Perspectivisation beyond Immersion and Identification5.1 Multiple- Character Scenarios and the Paradigmatic Study of Narrative Engagement 5.2 Immersive and Identificatory Reading: Some Qualifications and Two Alternatives 5.3 Perspectivisation Revisited 5.3.1 From Textual Perspective to Readerly Perspectival Imagination 5.3.2 Marked and Unmarked Perspectivity and Multiperspectivity: A Four- Part Distinction 5.4 Readers as Involved Observers: Engagement with MCSs from a Monitor Position 6 Genre and Character Constellations: Relational Reading Expectations 6.1 Genre Theory from Category Classification to Reading Expectations6.2 The Acquisition and Use of Genre “Knowledge” and the Role of MCSs6.2.1 The Influence of Genre Schemata 6.2.2 Shared Conceptualisations: Cultural Relationship Models and Generic Chunks6.2.3 Embodied Relational Reading Expectations 6.3 Conclusion 7 From Theories to Methods: Thoughts on the Empirical Study of MCS Construction 7.1 From Theorising to Testing: The Necessity of Empirical Literary Studies 7.2 Challenges for the Empirical Study of Narrative Engagement and MCS Construction 7.2.1 Complexity and Length of Texts: Issues of Control and Ecological Validity7.2.2 Concepts and Terms: Issues of Precision 7.3 From Research Interest to Research Strategies: Investigating MCS ConstructionReferences Index