The Brain of Robert Frost: A Cognitive Approach to Literature

The Brain of Robert Frost combines brain science with literary criticism to model how we create and respond to literature, using psychoanalysis and brain research to explore the critical period in infancy, the binding of emotion to intellect, and the top-down, inside-out, feedback processing of language.

Format: Hardback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 01 February 2024
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Originally published in 1988, this groundbreaking book intertwines brain science with literary criticism, offering a novel perspective on the creation and interpretation of literature. The Brain of Robert Frost employs psychoanalysis, alongside the insights of brain research and cognitive psychology, to construct a comprehensive model of how we engage with and respond to literary works. Norman Holland, the author, extracts three fundamental concepts from the emerging field of 'the minds new science': the critical period in infancy when individuality is formed; the deep-rooted connection between emotion and intellect within the ancient brain; and the innovative top-down, inside-out, and feedback processing of language in the modern brain.

By utilizing Robert Frost as a case study, both as a writer and a reader, and comparing his interpretations of a poem to those of six esteemed professors of literature, Holland develops a groundbreaking approach to literary criticism and teaching. This book delves into the realm of literary cognition, expanding our understanding of the reading process, the workings of poets' brains, and our own cognitive mechanisms. Through its multidisciplinary approach, The Brain of Robert Frost offers a rich and insightful exploration of the intricate relationship between the mind and literature, paving the way for a deeper appreciation of the art form.

Weight: 550g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032658155