Theory of Mind and Literature

Theory of Mind is what enables us to put ourselves in another's shoes. It is mindreading empathy creative imagination of another's perspective: in short it is simultaneously a highly sophisticated ability and a very basic necessity for human communication. Theory of Mind is central to such commercial endeavors as market research and product development but it is also just as important in maintaining human relations over a cup of coffee. Not surprisingly it is a critical tool in reading and understanding literature which abounds with characters situations and other people's shoes. Furthermore it is becoming increasingly apparent that reading literature also hones these critical mindreading skills. <i>Theory of Mind and Literature</i> is a collection of nineteen essays by prominent scholars (linguists cognitive scientists and philosophers) working in the cutting-edge field of cognitive literary studies which explores how we use Theory of Mind in reading and understanding literature.