Fictions of Dementia: Narrative Modes of Presenting Dementia in Anglophone Novels

Susanne Katharina Christ

Published by De Gruyter 2022

Fictions of Dementia

Narrative Modes of Presenting Dementia in Anglophone Novels

Susanne Katharina Christ

Volume 82 in the series Narratologia

https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110789805

Overview
Contents

About this book

Taking its cues from both classical and post-classical narratologies, this study explores both forms and functions of the representation of dementia in Anglophone fictions. Initially, dementia is conceptualised as a narrative-epistemological paradox: The more those affected know what it is like to have dementia, the less they can tell about it. Narrative fiction is the only discourse that provides an imaginative glimpse at the subjective experience of dementia in language. The narratological modelling of four ‘narrative modes’ elaborates how the paradox becomes productive in fiction: Depending on the narrative perspective taken, but also on the type of narration, the technique for representing consciousness and the epistemic strategy of narrating dementia, the respective narrative modes come with different prerequisites and possibilities for narrating dementia. The analysis of four contemporary Anglophone dementia fictions based on the developed model reveals their potential functions: Fiction allows readers to learn about the challenges of dementia, grants them perspective-taking, it trains cognitive flexibility, and explores the meaning of memory, knowledge, narrative and imagination, and thus also offers trajectories of a cultural coping with dementia.

Author / Editor information

Susanne Katharina Christ, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen, Germany, und Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz, Austria.

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	I
Acknowledgements Publicly Available Download PDF	V
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	VII
List of Figures Publicly Available Download PDF	XIII
List of Sigla Publicly Available Download PDF	XV
1 Introduction: Cultural and Literary Fictions of Dementia Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
2 Narrative Modes for the Representation of Dementia Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	47
3 Elucidating-explaining Dementia, Showing Family Relations, and Highlighting the Power of Ambiguity in Self-Narrated Dementia in Emma Healey’s Elizabeth Is Missing (2014) Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	281
4 Showing Caring and Coping, Exploring the Limits of Memory and Knowledge, and Celebrating Imagination in the Secondarily Affected Character Narration in Stefan Merrill Block’s The Story of Forgetting (2008) Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	320
5 Probing Character Proximity, Staging Indeterminacy and Reflecting upon Narrative in the Multi-perspectival Affected Character Narration in Naomi Kruger’s May (2018) Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	360
6 Integrating Medical Knowledge, Educating Readers, and Shedding a More Positive Light on Life with Dementia in the Inspective Non-Character Narration in Lisa Genova’s Still Alice (2007) Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	407
7 Results of the Textual Analyses in the Light of the Model of Narrative Modes and Three Hypotheses on Functions Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	445
8 Conclusion: Cultural Functions of Dementia Fictions Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	462
List of Works Cited Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	501
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	523

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: De Gruyter
Audience: Scholars of Narratology, Literary and Cultural Studies, Medical Humanities, English Studies, Sociology, Psychology
Pages
- Front matter: 15
- Main content: 524
Illustrations
- Coloured Illustrations: 10
Keywords: Ageing Studies; human consciousness; illness narratives; narrative turn

eBook

Published: September 20, 2022
ISBN: 9783110789805

Hardcover

Published: September 20, 2022
ISBN: 9783110789751