Cognitive Literary Theory

Cognitive Literary Theory is a strain of literary theory (or, more accurately, a collection of related strains) that uses biological, psychological, and evolutionary research to help us understand how the human mind works. Cognitive literary theorists use this scientific grounding in the workings of the brain to explore how humans read, write, share, and tell stories; perceive and process imagery; interpret and relate to characters; and construct and manipulate metaphors. Cognitive literary studies is an interdisciplinary field encompassing diverse perspectives, and as a result, its terminology can become confusing. The goal of this Wiki is to provide information on terms, concepts, and resources that will be helpful to anyone interested in cognitive literary theory, but particularly to those with a strong background in literature.