narrative theory

A simple diagram of a narrative arc for a chronic illness story as it might traditionally be drawn. Tracing a black arch shape from left to right, it begins with 'inciting incident' as 'Onset of illness?' or 'Flare up?', moves into 'Rising Tension' followed by 'Climax' at the top of the arch and ends with 'Resolution' as 'Diagnosis? Cure? Death? Acceptance?'

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Refusing Resolution? Exploring Unresolveable Illness and Story Endings

14 December 202211 May 2023

Charlotte Heather explains why chronic illness stories can productively trouble standard ideas about narrative arc and resolution. Lazard wrote that chronic illness ‘experiences are difficult to narrativize: they have no arc’ (Lazard 2013) and

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‘The Poetics and Politics of Alzheimer’s Disease Life-Writing’ reviewed by Julie E Kutac

9 January 201812 November 2021

The Poetics and Politics of Alzheimer’s Disease Life-Writing by Martina Zimmerman (Palgrave, 2017). In The Poetics and Politics of Alzheimer’s Disease Life-Writing, Martina Zimmermann undertakes the ambitious task of critically assessing the small canon of

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