Even though my friend Caroline is an avid reader and enjoys classics (she suggested our book club read Great Expectations last year), she avoids Jane Austen novels. They feel like work to her.
Do you struggle with Jane Austen as well? I came across an interesting story last month that might persuade you to pick up Pride and Prejudice.
The New World of Literary Neuroscience
NPR featured a story on the work of Natalie Phillips, a professor of 18th century English literature at Michigan State University. Ms. Phillips studies cognitive approaches to narrative; more specifically, she’s looking at how Enlightenment ideas shaped 18th century literature, and if literature in turn influenced theories about cognition.
Sounds deep, doesn’t it? Basically, Phillips wants to know more about how our brains work while we concentrate, and if 18th century authors, like Jane Austen, incorporated scientific theory about cognition into their writing. For example, Phillips has hypothesized that Austen made Elizabeth Bennett, the heroine of Pride and Prejudice, bright, but also very distractable, based on theories about cognition at the time.
To further explore the link between cognition and literature, Phillips ran a study to see how people’s brains behaved while reading Austen. She asked her participants to read while lying in an MRI machine. Sometimes subjects were directed to skim, and at other times they were asked to read analytically. Researchers monitored several things during the trials, including:
- brain activity
- eye movement across the page
- breathing
- heart rate
The Good News for Word Nerds
Why did I share this? Because it gives word nerds everywhere more ammo for defending our bookish habits. Not only does reading improve our vocabulary, but it also may be stimulating our minds in unexpected ways. I can’t wait to learn more about how reading affects our cognitive abilities!
I also won’t feel guilty anymore about getting lost in a story when I should be doing a comparatively menial chore. I’m generating important brain waves! (Of course, I need to remember this when my children tune me out to pour over the pages of their latest book.)
And finally, for readers like Caroline who struggle with Austen, perhaps now you’ll think that the effort might be worth it and give P & P another try.
How do you feel about Jane Austen’s work? Can you share any other research about how reading affects the brain?
Struggle with Jane? Doesn’t everyone? Maybe I’ll give her another try 🙂
Haven’t I convinced you with this fabulous information?
Another great post in a string of great posts! I’m reading Northanger Abbey right now. I do love Jane Austen, but it does take awhile to settle into the language. Plus, some of the things these characters talk about in that era! Dresses and social status, etc. It’s an education!
I have nominated you for The Sunshine Award! You may pick it up here with no strings attached! http://www.muddyingthewaters.com/2012/11/30/the-sunshine-award-blogs-that-make-me-happy/
Enjoy!
Thanks Muddy! I’m happy to make you happy. And I agree, it takes awhile to settle into Austen language, but it’s worth the effort.
I also find this fascinating! I am a big fan of brain theories and if you combine that with books…oooh…even better. I am ashamed to admit I’ve never read Jane Austen. Yes, they seem like work, but I know I must get over this. Especially after my experience reading Jane Eyre a couple of years ago – I didn’t know the great literary work I was missing until then!
You’ve gotta try at least one, Amy. Reward yourself by watching the movie after.
Julia,
Love the notion that reading metaphors might literally change the brain! Wow! Today in English class I told some of the students that just because Merchant of Venice sounds like mumbo jumbo is no reason to check out. I suggested reading it more lightly, hanging on to just the words they do understand to see what they could get from that. I told my daughter the same thing about Jane Eyre and in no time she was hooked, suddenly wanting to plow through the more difficult writing to see just what was going on!
Good for you to promote Shakespeare. I find it also helps to read it aloud or have it read aloud- the plays were meant to be performed, after all. I’m so glad you could convince your daughter to try Jane Eyre- yes, sometimes it’s a matter of just going with the flow of the language for awhile, like listening to someone with an accent.
Julia! Seriously . . . this is fascinating! 😉 I just may have to give P & P another whirl! 🙂
God bless you, Hester 😉
Oh Hester, you should try it. I neglected to mention in the body of my post that I love P & P.
I often “get lost in a book” so I can relate to the findings that some readers put themselves into the book. It’s interesting stuff, and I look forward to learning more!
Thanks! Who knew there was a field of “literary neuroscience”!