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Volume 34, Issue 2
  • ISSN 1387-6740
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Abstract

Abstract

In recent years, strands of contemporary narrative theory have taken a turn toward a politically, socially, and environmentally conscious field of study that could be characterized as ‘engaged narratology.’ Creating and disseminating knowledge about how narratives work, these theories emphasize that narrative forms and strategies are neither universal nor neutral; they carry out, but can also challenge, systems of inequality and marginalization. They also suggest new combinations of theory and activism, pedagogical interventions, and community engagement models, offering tools to create social justice. This article outlines some of these recent developments and reflects on the possibilities of ‘engaged narratology’: how it relates to engaged research and what kinds of practices have been developed so far. As an example of engaged narratological work, it discusses the shared close reading of Roxane Gay’s book (2017) in a multidisciplinary narrative medicine classroom.

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2024-11-22
2025-07-17

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Toward engaged narratology
Narrative Inquiry 34, 262 (2024); https://doi.org/10.1075/ni.24029.ova
/content/journals/10.1075/ni.24029.ova
/content/journals/10.1075/ni.24029.ova
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  • Article Type: Research Article
Keyword(s): applied narratology; close reading; embodiment; engaged narratology; feminist narratology; feminist pedagogy; literature pedagogy; narrative medicine; political narratologies; social justice

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