Possible Worlds in Literary Theory (Literature, Culture, Theory)

The concept of possible worlds, originally introduced in philosophical logic, proves to be a productive tool when borrowed by literary theory to explain the notion of fictional worlds. Ruth Ronen develops a comparative reading of the use of possible worlds in philosophy and in literary theory. She suggests new criteria for the definition of fictionality; and through specific studies of domains within fictional worlds--events, objects, time and point of view--she proposes a radical rethinking of fictionality in general and fictional narrativity in particular.

• The first interdisciplinary study of the problem of fiction through the originally philosophical concept of possible worlds • Makes issues crystal-clear in lucid style • No. 7 in prestigious Cambridge University Press series Literature, Culture, Theory

Acknowledgements; Introduction; 1. Possible worlds, fictional worlds; 2. The possibility of fictional worlds; 3. The fictionality of fictional worlds; 4. Fictional entities, incomplete beings; 5. Fictional events and the intricacies of plot; 6. Focalization and fictional perspective; 7. Fictional time; Conclusion; Bibliography; Index.