Possible Worlds in Literary Theory [Hardcover]

The philosophical concept of 'possible worlds' used to explain theoretical problems of fictionality and narrativity.The concept of possible worlds, originally introduced in philosophical logic, proves to be a productive tool when borrowed by literary theory to explain the notion of fictional worlds. This text develops a comparative reading of the use of possible worlds in philosophy and in literary theory.The concept of possible worlds, originally introduced in philosophical logic, proves to be a productive tool when borrowed by literary theory to explain the notion of fictional worlds. This text develops a comparative reading of the use of possible worlds in philosophy and in literary theory.The concept of possible worlds, originally introduced in philosophical logic, proves to be a productive tool when borrowed by literary theory to explain the notion of fictional worlds. Ruth Ronen develops a comparative reading of the use of possible worlds in philosophy and in literary theory. She suggests new criteria for the definition of fictionality; and through specific studies of domains within fictional worlds--events, objects, time and point of view--she proposes a radical rethinking of fictionality in general and fictional narrativity in particular.Acknowledgements; Introduction; 1. Possible worlds, fictional worlds; 2. The possibility of fictional worlds; 3. The fictionality of fictional worlds; 4. Fictional entities, incomplete beings; 5. Fictional events and the intricacies of plot; 6. Focalization and fictional perspective; 7. Fictional time; Conclusion; Bibliography; Index. ...Ronen's book is a most valuable and exciting contribution of great interest to two communities of specialized readers: those interested in the general dynamics of theory formation in cultural studies and those whose interests focus on one central issue in this sphere, fictional worlds and their constitutive domains. Uri Margolin, Style ...illuminates the logic underlying an important intel³¢