Originally published in 1988,this book brings brain science to literary criticism. The Brain of Robert Frost combines psychoanalysis with the findings of brain research and cognitive psychology to model the way we create and respond to literature. Norman Holland draws three central ideas from 'the mind's new science': the critical 'supercharged' period in infancy when individuality is formed; the binding of emotion to intellect deep in the old brain; the top-down, inside-out,feedback processing of language in the new.Then, using Robert Frost as an example both of a writer and a reader, and comparing Frost's reading of a poem to readings by six professors of literature, Holland builds a new, powerful way of thinking about literary criticism and teaching.A book about literary cognition,The Brain of Robert Frost furthers our understanding of the reading process, of poet's brains,and of our own.

About the Author

Norman N. Holland was Milbauer Eminent Schoar at the University of Florida, USA and one of only a few literary theorists to have received psychoanalytic training.

Reviews

Reviews of the original edition of The Brain of Robert Frost:

'...Norman Holland offers us an ingenious, moving and quite convincing account of human literary endeavours.' Howard Gardener, author of Art, Mind and Brain.

'...brilliantly inventive...Here physiology, psychology, cybernetics, psycholinguistics, biography, pedagogy and literary theory meet to illumine the most radical faculties of mind..' Ihab Hassan

'...a marvellous exploration of how we comprehend both poems and poets. It is required reading for anyone who wants to understand the interpretive process.' George Lakoff

Book Information
ISBN 9781032658155
Author Norman N. Holland
Format Hardback
Page Count 208
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 680g