Handbook of Narrative Analysis

The study of narrative has been a continuous concern from antiquity to the present day because stories are everywherefrom fiction across media to nation building and personal identity.Handbook of Narrative Analysissorts out both traditional and recent narrative theories, providing the necessary skills to interpret any story that comes along. In addition to discussing classical theorists such as Gerard Genette, Mieke Bal, and Seymour Chatman,Handbook of Narrative Analysispresents precursors (such as E. M. Forster), related theorists (Franz Stanzel, Dorrit Cohn), and a large variety of postclassical critics. Among the latter, particular attention is paid to the ethics of reading, gender theory, and "possible worlds." Not content to consider theory as an end in itself, Luc Herman and Bart Vervaeck use two stories by contemporary authors as a touchstone to illustrate each narrative approach, thereby illuminating the practical implications of theoretical preferences and ideological leanings. Marginal glosses guide the reader through discussions of theoretical issues, and an extensive bibliography points readers to the most current publications in the field. Written in an accessible style, this handbook combines a comprehensive treatment of its subject with a user-friendly format appropriate for specialists and nonspecialists alike.Herman, Luc is the author of 'Handbook of Narrative Analysis', published 2005 under ISBN 9780803273498 and ISBN 0803273495.