The Verse-Line as a Whole Unit in Working Memory, Ease of Processing, and the Aesthetic Effects of Form. (3rd October 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fabb, Nigel
• Is Part Of: Royal Institute of Philosophy supplement. Volume 75(2014)
• Page Start: 29
• Page End: 50
• Publication Date: 2014-10-03
• Subjects: Philosophy -- Periodicals; 100
• DOI: 10.1017/S1358246114000186
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1358-2461

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="text-abstract"> <title> <x content-type="archive" xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>Verse is text which is divided into lines. In this paper I explore a psychological account of how verse is processed, and specifically the hypothesis that the text is processed line by line, such that each line is held as a whole sequence in the limited capacity of working memory. I will argue that because the line is processed in this way, certain low-level aesthetic effects are thereby produced, thus giving a partial explanation for why verse is often a highly valued type of verbal behaviour. The general goal is to address the question of what literary form is, from a psychological perspective, and how the textual presence and psychological processing of form can contribute to particular aspects of the aesthetic experience of verse.</p> </abstract>