Humanity and the art of literary linguistics

Abstract

This paper places the position adopted by the younger Jakobson in contrast with his more famous later statements, in order to examine the effects of his legacy. While the analytical and structural consequences of Jakobson's work in literary scholarship have proven immensely valuable, there are also some aspects of humanity, consciousness and emotional connection that have been, if not entirely lost, then certainly backgrounded in literary scholarship. This paper argues for a return to Jakobson's own early principles, in the form of a cognitive poetics of literary exploration, with examples from emotionally-affecting literary works.

Keywords:

• cognitive poetics
• emotion
• reading
• transportation
• lament
• stylistics