This paper combines empirical analysis of actual reader reception data with a close reading of reception data as well as the literary work. The first chapter provides essential theoretical background focusing on distant reading and cognitive/empirical reception as well as the guidance of reader reception through empathy, all with a particular focus on character representation. Chapter two analyses 300 goodreads reviews on Girl, Woman, Other through distant reading to find out what the contemporary reader focuses on.
The 2019 Booker Prize winning novel Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo has been received extremely well on goodreads. With an average rating of 4.42 out of 5 stars, it compares to all-time favorites like the Lord of the Rings (4.51/5) or Game of Thrones (4.45/5) series. A distant reading of 300 selected goodreads reviews on Girl, Woman, Other revealed that the Booker Prize was frequently mentioned in their reviews. The award serves as “attention booster” for the, up until then, to mainstream readership only lesser known Evaristo. Further, a comparative keyword analysis of the selected reviews and the respective The Guardian review revealed that goodreads readers tend to focus more on characters and review on a more personal/emotional level. Therefore, Girl, Woman, Other is as successful since it establishes a personal relationship between narrative and readers. It was thus the aim of this paper to analyze the respective narrative strategies which manage to establish this connection through both distant as well as close reading strategies.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction: Bernardine Evaristo's Fusion Fiction
- Theoretical Introduction: Distant and Close Reading for Reception Analysis
- Distant Reading of 300 Reader Reviews
- Close Reading of Narrative Techniques in Girl, Woman, Other
- Fictional Characters and Their Perspectives
- Aesthetics (“Fusion Fiction” and Use of Language)
- Intertextuality and Intermediality
- Close Reading of Emotional Effects on Readers (goodreads reviews)
- Discussion & Outlook: Opportunities and Limitations of Distant Reading
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper investigates the reception of Bernardine Evaristo's novel "Girl, Woman, Other" through a combination of distant and close reading approaches. The main objective is to understand how the novel's narrative techniques and themes resonate with readers, specifically focusing on reader reviews on Goodreads. This analysis aims to uncover the factors that contribute to the high reception of this experimental novel.
- The effectiveness of “fusion fiction” in engaging readers
- The impact of narrative techniques on reader reception
- The role of empathy and emotional connection in understanding fictional characters
- The potential and limitations of distant reading for analyzing reader reception
- The relationship between literary works and societal influence
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The first chapter provides a theoretical framework for the study, exploring distant reading, cognitive reception theory, and the role of empathy in understanding fictional characters. The second chapter utilizes distant reading to analyze 300 Goodreads reviews on "Girl, Woman, Other," focusing on themes and patterns emerging from the data. Chapter three delves into the narrative techniques used in the novel through close reading, examining aspects such as character perspectives, language, and intertextuality. Chapter four examines the emotional effects of these techniques on readers by analyzing Goodreads reviews through close reading. The fifth chapter discusses the possibilities and limitations of distant reading for reader reception studies, suggesting potential directions for future research.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Key terms and concepts explored in this paper include distant reading, close reading, reader reception, narrative techniques, "fusion fiction," empathy, cognitive reception theory, social cognition, "Girl, Woman, Other," Bernardine Evaristo, Goodreads reviews, and the impact of literature on society.
- Citar trabajo
- Marnie Hensler (Autor), 2020, Reader reception of Bernardine Evaristo's "Girl, Woman, Other". A distant and close reading approach, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/937662
