Toward a Theory of Cognitive Poetics

General Assumptions. The Nature of Cognitive Poetics. Mental and Vocal Performance in Poetry Reading. Constructing a Stable World. Poetic Structure and Perceived Qualities. The Sound Stratum of Poetry. Rhyme Patterns, Gestalt Theory and Perceptual Forces. Meter and Rhythm. Expressiveness and Musicality of Speech Sounds. The Units-of-Meaning Stratum. Semantic Representation and Information Processing. Literary Synaesthesia. The World Stratum. The Representative Anecdote: Human Contingency. Regulative Concepts. The Versatile Reader: Style as Open Concept. Style as Diagnosis and as Hypothesis Practical Application: The Ballad Edward. Archetypal Patterns. Poetry of Orientation & Disorientation. Space Perception and Poetry of Orientation. Poetry of Disorientation. The Grotesque as an Aesthetic Mode. Poetry of Altered States of Consciousness. Poetry and Altered States of Consciousness. Obtrusive Rhythms & Emotive Crescendo. The Divergent Passage and Ecstatic Poetry. Critics and Criticism. The Implied Critic’s Decision Style. The Critic’s Mental Dictionary.