Elements of Surprise - Our Mental Limits and the Satisfactions of Plot

Reading classic and popular literature alongside the latest research in cognitive science, Vera Tobin shows that a good surprise works by taking advantage of cognitive biases, mental shortcuts, and quirks of memory. She provides not only a sophisticated how-to guide for writers but¿for all readers¿a new appreciation of the pleasures of being had.

About the author

Vera Tobin is Assistant Professor in the Department of Cognitive Science at Case Western Reserve University.

Summary

Reading classic and popular literature alongside the latest research in cognitive science, Vera Tobin shows that a good surprise works by taking advantage of cognitive biases, mental shortcuts, and quirks of memory. She provides not only a sophisticated how-to guide for writers but—for all readers—a new appreciation of the pleasures of being had.

Product details

• Authors: Vera Tobin, Tobin Vera
• Publisher: Harvard University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 30.04.2018
• EAN: 9780674980204
• ISBN: 978-0-674-98020-4
• No. of pages: 344
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > General and comparative literary studies; SCIENCE / Life Sciences / Neuroscience, PSYCHOLOGY / Cognitive Psychology & Cognition, LITERARY CRITICISM / Modern / 20th Century, Cognition, Neurosciences, Literary studies: from c 1900 -, Literary studies: fiction, novelists & prose writers, Literary studies: fiction, novelists and prose writers, Literary studies: c 1900 to c 2000, Cognitivism, cognitive theory, LITERARY CRITICISM / Novel as Form