The Contamination between Stylistics and Cognitive Poetics: an analysis of Lord Randal

Abstract

The present essay focuses on the contamination of methodologies in the field of literary analysis. More specifically, a model of analysis, resulting from the encounter of stylistics and cognitive poetics will be presented in order to demonstrate that the application of hybrid methodologies can lead to a deeper and far-reaching understanding of literary works; the pivotal researches by Geoffrey Leech and Mick Short (Style in Fiction: A Linguistic Introduction to English Fictional Prose, 1981) and Peter Stockwell (Cognitive Poetics: An Introduction, 2002) will constitute the basis of the model at issue.

After briefly illustrating the model itself, an example of quantitative and qualitative analysis will be provided; the object of study will be Lord Randal, a traditional ballad that can be defined as endemic across Europe.  In fact, attestations can be found in many European languages, although the plot often presents minor differences. The final part of the essay will briefly discuss the mechanisms behind empathy in the above-mentioned ballad.