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Graphing Jane Austen: The Evolutionary Basis of Literary Meaning [Kõva köide]

  • Formaat: Hardback, 305 pages, kõrgus x laius: 216x140 mm, kaal: 530 g, XI, 305 p., 1 Hardback
  • Sari: Cognitive Studies in Literature and Performance
  • Ilmumisaeg: 24-Apr-2012
  • Kirjastus: Palgrave Macmillan
  • ISBN-10: 1137002409
  • ISBN-13: 9781137002402
  • Formaat: Hardback, 305 pages, kõrgus x laius: 216x140 mm, kaal: 530 g, XI, 305 p., 1 Hardback
  • Sari: Cognitive Studies in Literature and Performance
  • Ilmumisaeg: 24-Apr-2012
  • Kirjastus: Palgrave Macmillan
  • ISBN-10: 1137002409
  • ISBN-13: 9781137002402

Why have we evolved to delight in telling stories and listening to them? Can literary meaning be discovered through data? What is more important to the identity of a literary character: gender or moral disposition? This boldly original study answers such questions and thus changes the debate about literary Darwinism. Constructing an evolutionary model of human nature and adopting scientific methods of research, this book explains the organization of characters in nineteenth-century British novels, yields rich insights into specific literary works, and demonstrates that evolutionary thinking can solve basic problems of literary theory.

Arvustused

"Graphing Jane Austen shines a spotlight that not only would make C. P. Snow proud but also helps better understand our culture's relationship with constructs like personality, gender, and introversion." - Brainpickings





"In merging literary and evolutionary approaches, this book is certain to bring delight to an evolutionary audience and a combination of interest and consternation to the literary contingent. This is wholly appropriate for a fascinating pioneering work." - Christopher Boehm, Director, The Goodall Research Center, University of Southern California





"[ The authors] bring three vital ingredients to this study of nineteenth-century English novels: a love of the novels, a modern understanding of human evolutionary biology, and facility with modern methods of data analysis. The result is a stunning synthesis; many dream of some reconciliation between the sciences and the humanities. [ This book] has actually stepped in and started us down that road." - Henry Harpending, professor of Anthropology, University of Utah





'Once every century or so, a paradigm shift erupts in how we perceive literature. Graphing Jane Austen is this century's revolution. It is a masterpiece of creative, synthesizing science that lays the groundwork for an entirely new way of looking at and understanding literature. - Barbara Oakley, Professor of Engineering, Oakland University and author of Cold-Blooded Kindness and Evil Genes





'This is a strikingly original book, full of surprising insights into human nature and the way novels work.' R. Headlam-Wells, Professor Emeritus, Roehampton University London

List of Figures and Tables
vii
Acknowledgments xi
Introduction 1(16)
Part I Methods and Results
Chapter 1 A User's Manual
17(18)
Chapter 2 Agonistic Structure Differentiated by Sex
35(24)
Part II Implications
Chapter 3 Determinate Meanings
59(12)
Chapter 4 Sexual Politics
71(10)
Chapter 5 Adaptive Function
81(14)
Part III Case Studies
Chapter 6 Jane Austen, by the Numbers
95(28)
Chapter 7 Indifferent Tragedy in The Mayor of Casterbridge
123(34)
Conclusion
157(20)
Glossary
177(6)
Appendices
1 A Link to the Questionnaire
183(2)
2 Characters for Whom Protocols Were Completed
185(14)
3 The Distribution of Characters in Sets
199(8)
4 Notes on Statistical Procedures
207(12)
5 Results of Factor Analysis for Emotional Responses, Motives, and Mate Selection
219(4)
6 Statistically Significant Results
223(4)
Notes 227(14)
Bibliography 241(28)
Index 269
Author John A. Johnson: John A. Johnson is professor of psychology at the Pennsylvania State University, DuBois. Author Daniel J. Kruger: Daniel J. Kruger is an assistant research professor at the University of Michigan.