Cognitive narratology covers the study of the novel in collaboration with cognitive studies, from fields such as Psychology and Neuroscience. In one of our seminars, we have been researching the concepts of cognitive narratology, and in this text, I will give a short overview of what I have learned, and why I find it simply lovely.
I have always been interested in the concept of storytelling; what do our minds get from stories, so much so that books, films, and even songs with stories intrigue us at such a high level? The history of humans, the way our ancestors would tell stories in front of a campfire, for not only entertainment but for survival, would be a topic too deep for this article, but the legacy of this form of connecting seems to be vitally important. We practice this every-day storytelling, with our friends and family, and these days more and more frequently on the internet. Furthermore, we practice it in deep and creative ways through literature.
Cognitive narratology is still a rather small field in itself and has many concepts that are being debated, just like in any other literary field. Cognitive narratology is interested in how the mind works in relation to reading and perceiving events, concepts, and characters in literature. It is a wide spectrum, having scholars examining the emotional perception process of readers, how the writer constructs the relatability in characters through mimetic characteristics for example, and how science fiction works as something that at the moment feels very real for the reader, even if the story is happening literally outside of this world.
What I’ve found meaningful in studying these subjects have been the articles discussing how readers generate empathy when reading fictional stories, and how those lessons can manifest in real life. Scholars have definitely differing opinions on this, but it is safe to say it is nonetheless a subject that has the potential to enlighten us on the extensive value of reading and sharing stories. Philosophy of a good world or a good life, the importance of expressing and feeling a range of emotions, the questions of what is right and what is wrong, in the end, have always been displayed in literature. In my view, reading cognitive narratology has been fun since it looks into the mechanical, synthetic creation of such stories, can also offer insights in the study of experiences and understanding others deeper.
Thus, cognitive narratology has been interesting to me because it combines knowledge from other fascinating fields, using research on the functions of the brain or human behavior to understand how we read, write and perceive literature. When reading a novel, I can think of the possible added layer of narration, how I am perceiving characters in relation to the people I have met, or how to discover paths of the thematic elements in the story. Consequently, the reading experience can grow and expand in unimaginable ways. Reading of the ways of writing, experiencing, and empathizing, keep reminding me of the remarkable beauty of storytelling.