Story Logic: Problems and Possibilities of Narrative

Frontiers of Narrative

by David Herman

Featuring a major synthesis and critique of interdisciplinary narrative theory, Story Logic marks a watershed moment in the study of narrative. David Herman argues that narrative is simultaneously a cognitive style, a discourse genre, and a resource for writing. Because stories are strategies that help humans make sense of their world, narratives not only have a logic but also are a logic in their own right, providing an irreplaceable resource for structuring and comprehending experience. Story Logic brings together and pointedly examines key concepts of narrative in literary criticism, linguistics, and cognitive science, supplementing them with a battery of additional concepts that enable many different kinds of narratives to be analyzed and understood. By thoroughly tracing and synthesizing the development of different strands of narrative theory and provocatively critiquing what narratives are and how they work, Story Logic provides a powerful interpretive tool kit that broadens the applicability of narrative theory to more complex forms of stories, however and wherever they appear. Story Logic offers a fresh and incisive way to appreciate more fully the power and significance of narratives.

Genres: Writing

500 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2002

About the author

David Herman is Professor of the Engaged Humanities, Department of English Studies, Durham University (United Kingdom).

Reviews

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like a hungry ferret, I'm back down this rabbit hole. An absolutely immense work on narrative theory that combines a linguistic approach with cognitive science without ignoring literary aspects of the narratives studied. I've spent months with this book and barely scuffed into its depths, yet my head is already full of narrative possibilities. Herman's core concept is that storyworlds are mental models encoded in the narrative and how we interpret and understand those mental models is the focus of his analysis. In the process he works his way through all the extant literature on narrative theory. With its endnotes and bibliography this becomes a comprehensive source--and an excellent starting point--for further study in narrative theory.

[Laura Walin · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting volume of new openings into all elements of narrative: into the plot, roles, dialogue, spatial and temporal relations etc. How to comprehend these in the light of integrated approach taking into account not just the text but the context of reading. And what would be roles and means that the author and the reader have in their use to agree on the meaning of a narrative. A somewhat heavy reading as the book clearly was not an introduction to the theme but rather an elaboration of previous research of narratology, which meant that the beginner had to trace the implied clues for the basic level from other works. Thought provoking and hence exciting nevertheless.

[Claire S]

Sounds like something applicable not only to the writing I hope to do some day, but also to best crafting of one's approach to life.. depending on being able to follow along adequately, of course.

[Chade66]

I was looking for help in telling a good story, not looking for an academic explanation. Didn't make it through the intro.