Abstract
Fully crediting the “brain-body-narrative nexus” (Wojciehowski and Gallese 62) that shapes readers’ reception, perception, and processing, this article examines A. S. Byatt’s “A Stone Woman,” in conjunction with current research on the “extended mind.” I explore (1) how Byatt’s use of sensory-motor cues agitates readers’ affective schemata, (2) how this affective stimulation can influence mental responses and the reading experience, and (3) how Byatt thereby also influences attitudes toward the thematic content of the story, extending the wonder tale genre’s preoccupation with personal development and aligning with philosophical traditions that encourage readers to undertake their own process of authentic becoming.
Recommended Citation
Rokotnitz, Naomi. "From Affective Schemata to Authentic Becoming: How Reading about Bodies Can Shape Our Mental Landscape and Philosophical Outlook; Postcritique and A. S. Byatt’s “A Stone Woman”." Marvels & Tales 37.2 (2024). Web. <https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/marvels/vol37/iss2/7>.
