Introduction

The paper is an argumentative essay on what cognitive theory offers literature theory. It is written using available literature and a comparison between the two theories drawn to show how cognitive theory influences the literature theory.

Outline

It is organized into various sections which are the definition of terms used, methodology used in the collection of information for the data, literature review done from existing about the topic, the results and finally the discussion and conclusion

Methods

ailable literature. It involved an analysis of data from scientific journals, websites, written books and other works related to cognitive theory and literature. All the information gathered was organized

Definition of terms

Cognitive theory is a concept in education psychology, which is concerned with the development of a person’s thinking process. In this sense, cognitive theory looks at how the thought process affects people understanding, and they interact with the world (Hutt, 2003). On the other hand, literary theory also known as critical theory consists of a set of ideas and intellectual assumptions that are used to explain or interpret literary texts. It implies that a literary theory is a set of principles originating from internal analysis texts or even the knowledge derived from external texts, which are applied in multiple interpretative conditions. This paper analyzes whether cognitive theory has anything to offer literary theory.

Literature review

Studies reveal that all branches of cognitive science are focused on examining the ways in which the mind either unconscious or conscious mental experiences of language, thought, and perceptions are created in the brain and other bodily structure. Therefore, literary theory copied from cognitive science, then, suggests new ways to locate text interpretation in their origin from the materially embodied mind/brain.

In fact, Mary Crane’s Shakespeare’s Brain, the reading with cognitive theory is one of the most considerable references, which attempts to bring cognitive materials such as language, psycholinguistics, neuroscience, and human thought process into perspective that involves literary interpretation (Michael, 2003). This implies that a cognitive theory offers many approaches to literary texts. However, focus is laid on the spatial structures, and pattern obtained from early experiences of embodiment and cognitive theorists conceive this as the basis of human language and thought. Therefore, it is wise to conclude that cognitive theory offers an expansive room for theorists to deduce literary theory. However, literary theorists are ignorant of social sciences even though most of them acknowledge Freud and Marx very few are aware of contemporary cognitive theory. Alternatively, it is worth noting that cognitive scientists are also ignorant of literary criticism even though they do mention it rarely.

Coupled with the above perspective, cognitive has a lot to offer in literary theory as cognitive scientist bridges between the two. In this case, the cognitive scientist sketches the thought process when analyzing the psychology of human development. It is done Through writing and reading a variety of texts that we call literary theory (Writing Commons, 2014). On the other hand, as literary theory is concerned with the interpretation of various doctrines, a literary theorist intending to interpret though process requires cognitive theories in order to draw conclusions about his or her interpretative effort. Therefore, both cognitive and literary theories mutually benefit each other on a broad spectrum.

In addition, literary theory is concerned with offering interpretation of texts covering narratives from different lenses of ideas such as art, literature, and even culture (Susan, 2013). For instance, if a theorist or a literary critic intends to work with certain Marxist theories, she or he usually focus on a variety of issues such as behaviours of the characters within the narrative among other themes such as interaction based on their social, political, and economic situation. On the other hand, cognitive theory is deeply inclined towards acceptance of the narrative and this makes it an essential filed within literary criticism. This is evidenced by the early cognitive developers of narratives such as Robert Abelson and Roger Schank who came up with stories to describe their efforts to create computer programs capable of handing out natural language discourses. Criticism on these narratives is a guiding principle to ascertain that cognitive theory greatly contributes to literary theory.

Analysis

            Cognitive aspect of a human is the origin of thoughts and through the process. It is from these thoughts that the literature theory forms its basis for an explanation of behaviors expressed by human beings. the aim of explaining the current and contemporary issues brought about by the new discoveries in cognitive science (Fredrick, 2010).

Cognitive theory analyzes the mind in a structural manner with interrelated components. Each component is considered to have a particular function exhibited externally through human behaviors such as learning, speech, hearing and language. It is a similar structure that is copied by literature theory in the explanation of other human characteristics such as learning and interpretation of literal information and, therefore, borrowing a lot from it. focuses on the earlier stages of development in human beings and proposes the stages at which most of the developmental changes occur in relation to human behavior. The literature theory utilizes the information raised by cognitive theory to argue its ideas on learning and their effects on the human being at the different ages of life (Jasper, 2007)

From its broad nature, cognitive theory draws its conclusions from many subjects including neuroscience and neuropsychology. The information forms a wider basis of analysis and augmentation. On the other hand, literature, theory draws its conclusions from subjects such as arts. Both of them aim at explaining various complex aspects of human nature and with close relations. Through the utilization of various experiments, cognitive theories raise more information about the mental functioning of the individual. It is through this data by which literature theories apply and utilize in its explanations (John, 2009).

In its researches, cognitive theories utilize non-human subjects to gather data on various effects of the brain. two. Inithout the support of the other (Stephen, 2011).

The cognitive theory closely utilizes conceptual metaphor, anguage used in the literature theory (Terry, 2011)

The use of cognitive approach aids in the development of knowledge. It is because, through cognitive theory, there is a deep inquiry to its meaning and how it relates to the whole context. Through it, one learns about new ideas through the building of the available ones. It also leads to the construction and understanding of complex relation to the applied context (Sara, 2010).

rs   a text for the first time, the learner has to make comprehensive relations and interpretation to it in order to ease future retrieval from one’s memory. Lack of proper internalization of the text provided leads to poor storage and future interpretations of the texts in the future which may affect the learners’ future abilities (Antoine, 2004)

Literature theory classifies works of literature into various aspects that have different meanings. These texts in various aspects of literature can be very much limiting if read in a single critical perspective which may also affect the cohesion of language across different people Studies involving the brain have sought to explain some of the activities influenced by the unconscious mind, with an aim to bringing more evidence on the these studies to advance in its works (Richard, 2005).

Conclusion

In conclusion, cognitive theory offers literary theory information and data that is acquired through reading and writing texts. In this case, the cognitive data and information is used by the literary theorists for their interpretative purposes. This is because when a reader attends to words in written text, several symbols and structures form in their mind, and certain things start to come to their awareness. It denotes that psychological process is evoked, and the mind is set to release certain meanings of various components of the text into attention (Simon, 2005). In connection to this, the released meanings are what literary theorists consider as interpretation of the text. Therefore, literary theory highly depends on cognitive theory through cognitive sciences where human mind is the subject matter in processing texts, and literature cannot be successful without the two approaches.

References

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Huitt, W. (2003). The information processing approach to cognition. Educational Psychology Interactive. Valdosta, GA, Valdosta State University.

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John D. (2009). Literacy theory. New York; NY: Sterling publishing company.

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Michael, T. (2003). Shakespeare’s Brain: Reading with Cognitive Theory. Shakespeare Quarterly, 53 (4), 586 – 590.

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Simon, H. (2005). Literary criticism: a cognitive approach. Literature and Cognition, 4 (1), 10-15.

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Susan, B. (2013). Native American literary studies. Magazine Article: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries, 48 (3), 429.

Terry E. (2011). Literacy theory: An introduction. New York; NY: John Wiley and sons.

Writing Commons. (2014). Literary Criticism. Retrieved 2014, from Writing Commons: http://writingcommons.org/open-text/genres/academic-writing/literary-criticism/28-literary-criticism