Issue Details: First known date: 2021... 2021 Narrative Empathy in Contemporary Australian Multiperspectival Novels : Cognitive Readings of Christos Tsiolkas’s The Slap and Gail Jones’s Five Bells
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

'In this chapter, I approach contemporary Australian multiperspectival novels, i.e. texts in which the reader accesses the storyworld through different focalisers, from the perspective of narrative empathy. I argue that narrative empathy as a result of a text’s multiperspectivity can arise primarily if the narrative foregrounds conflict between focalisers. To illustrate this, I offer readings of Christos Tsiolkas’s The Slap (2008) and Gail Jones’s Five Bells (2011). Narrative empathy features differently in the two novels. While The Slap indeed invites readers to feel empathy on the basis of the multiperspectival structure of the text, this is not the case in Five Bells, since the narrative does not exacerbate conflict in the same way as Tsiolkas’s narrative does. At the same time, I suggest that it fulfils similar functions in both texts in that its main aim is to foster greater understanding for those whose subjectivities are marginalised within society.'

Source: Abstract.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

  • Appears in:
    y separately published work icon The Rise of the Australian Neurohumanities : Conversations Between Neurocognitive Research and Australian Literature Jean-François Vernay (editor), London : Routledge , 2021 21392095 2021 anthology criticism

    'This exciting one-of-a-kind volume brings together new contributions by geographically diverse authors who range from early career researchers to well-established scholars in the field.

    'It unprecedentedly showcases a wide variety of the latest research at the intersection of Australian literary studies and cognitive literary studies in a single volume.

    'It takes Australian fiction on the leading edge by paving the way for a new direction in Australian literary criticism.'

    Source: Publisher's blurb.

    London : Routledge , 2021
Last amended 16 Apr 2021 14:33:54
Narrative Empathy in Contemporary Australian Multiperspectival Novels : Cognitive Readings of Christos Tsiolkas’s The Slap and Gail Jones’s Five Bellssmall AustLit logo
Subjects:
  • The Slap Christos Tsiolkas , 2008 single work novel
  • Five Bells Gail Jones , 2011 single work novel
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