The Unexpected: Narrative Temporality and the Philosophy of Surprise (The Frontiers of Theory EUP)

Explores the relationship between unexpected events in narrative and life Focusing on surprise, spontaneous eruption and the unforeseeable, The Unexpected argues that stories help us to reconcile what we expect with what we experience. Though narrative is often understood a recapitulation of past events, the book argues that the unexpected and the future anterior, a future that is already complete, are guiding ideas for new understandings of the reading process. It also points beyond that to some of the key temporal concepts of our epoch, of unpredictability, the event, the untimely and the messianic. The Unexpected is an important intervention in narratology and a striking general argument about the cultural significance of surprise. The enquiry is developed by a range of new readings in philosophy and theory, as well as of Sarah Waters's Fingersmith , Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go and Julian Barnes's The Sense of an Ending . Key Features An original discussion of the relation of time and narrative An important intervention in narratology A striking general argument about the workings of the mind Provides an overview of the question of surprise in philosophy and literature This new study asks how stories affect the way we think about time and, in particular, how they condition thinking about the future. Focusing on surprise and the unforeseeable, the book argues that stories are mechanisms that reconcile what is taking place with what will have been. This relation between the present and the future perfect offers a grammatical formula quite different from our default notions of narrative as recollection or recapitulation. It promises new understandings of the reading process within the strange logic of a future that is already complete. It also points beyond that to some of the key temporal concepts of our epoch: prediction and unpredictability, uncertainty, the event, the untimely and the messianic. The argument is worked out in new readings of Sarah Waters’ Fingersmith, Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go and Julian Barnes’ The Sense of an Ending. ## Key Features## * An original discussion of the relation of time and narrative * An important intervention in narratology * A striking general argument about the workings of the mind * Provides an overview of the question of surprise in philosophy and literature "This new study asks how stories affect the way we think about time and, in particular, how they condition thinking about the future. Focusing on surprise and the unforeseeable, the book argues that stories are mechanisms that reconcile what is taking place with what will have been. This relation between the present and the future perfect offers a grammatical formula quite different from our default notions of narrative as recollection or recapitulation. It promises new understandings of the reading process within the strange logic of a future that is already complete. It also points beyond that to some of the key temporal concepts of our epoch: prediction and unpredictability, uncertainty, the event, the untimely and the messianic. The argument is worked out in new readings of Sarah Waters' Fingersmith, Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go and Julian Barnes' The Sense of an Ending."--Publisher's website "Focusing on surprise, spontaneous eruption and the unforeseeable, The Unexpected argues that stories help us to reconcile what we expect with what we experience. Though narrative is often understood a recapitulation of past events, the book argues that the unexpected and the future anterior, a future that is already complete, are guiding ideas for new understandings of the reading process. It also points beyond that to some of the key temporal concepts of our epoch, of unpredictability, the event, the untimely and the messianic. The Unexpected is an important intervention in narratology and a striking general argument about the cultural significance of surprise. The enquiry is developed by a range of new readings in philosophy and theory, as well as of Sarah Waters's Fingersmith, Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go and Julian Barnes's The Sense of an Ending."-- Provided by publisher Asks how stories affect the way we think about time and, in particular, how they condition thinking about the future. Focusing on surprise and the unforeseeable, this book argues that stories are mechanisms that reconcile what is taking place with what can have been. It provides an overview of the question of surprise in philosophy and literature. This Study Asks How Stories Affect The Way We Think About Time And, In Particular, How They Condition Thinking About The Future. Focusing On Surprise And The Unforeseeable, The Book Argues That Stories Are Mechanisms That Reconcile What Is Taking Place With What Will Have Been. Mark Currie. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Explores the relationship between unexpected events in narrative and life. Focusing on surprise, spontaneous eruption and the unforeseeable, this book argues that stories help us to reconcile what we expect with what we experience. It also provides an overview of the question of surprise in philosophy and literature.