Cognitive Poetics

Cognitive Poetics: An Introduction, 2nd Edition, is a textbook that presents a principled approach to literary reading and analysis. Written by Peter Stockwell and published by Routledge in 2020, each chapter introduces a distinct framework within cognitive poetics and relates it directly to a literary text.

The volume examines how readers generate literary meaning, experience emotion, and respond to literary force across poetry, prose, and drama. Its coverage addresses core analytical frameworks alongside chapters added for the 2020 revision on character mind-modelling, text-world construction, and immersion.

Intended for students in stylistics and literary theory courses, the book also serves readers studying critical theory, linguistics, and literary studies. Explorations and discussion points support individual inquiry as well as classroom work.