Computational Literary Studies

Theory and Methods
1. Auflage 2026
ISBN: 978-1-041-05104-6
Verlag: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Buch, Englisch, 184 Seiten, Format (B × H): 156 mm x 234 mm

The accessible guide provides a detailed overview of the emerging field of computational literary studies from the perspective of literary theory. From the earliest quantitative approaches to the most recent challenges of generative artificial intelligence, the book examines a diverse selection of computational methods by asking how they can tackle a set of fundamental questions in literary studies.

After investigating the ways in which literary historiography can benefit from the most basic approaches in quantitative text analysis, Simone Rebora explores three established computational methods (stylometry, sentiment analysis, and topic modeling) from the perspective of three compatible research fields (stylistics, affect studies, and thematic criticism), showing their innovative contributions to the theoretical debate. In a similar way, spatial literary studies and character studies are connected to the visualization techniques of mapping and network analysis, while intertextuality and literary hermeneutics bring the investigation to a close by engaging with the most advanced methods, including vector semantics and machine learning. Through analogies and comparisons each approach is thoroughly dissected to understand its potential and limitations.

Computational Literary Studies: Theory and Methods shows how the encounter between literary theory and computational methods can prove one of the most fruitful grounds for the future development of literary studies. This book is an essential resource for understanding this dynamic field, making it invaluable not only for students and scholars of literary studies and literary theory, but for those working across the humanities.

Zielgruppe

Postgraduate, Undergraduate Advanced, and Undergraduate Core

Autoren/Hrsg.

Rebora, Simone

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Literaturwissenschaft Literaturwissenschaft
• Mathematik | Informatik EDV | Informatik Informatik

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Acknowledgements

Introduction

From distant reading to computational literary studies

Computational literary studies and literary theory

Outline of chapters

Conclusion

1. Literary historiography and computational text analysis

Literary historiography

Frequencies and trendlines

Towards cultural evolution

Conclusion

2. Stylistics and stylometry

Stylistics

Stylometry

The concept of style in stylistics and stylometry

Conclusion

3. Emotions in literature and sentiment analysis

Emotions in literature

Sentiment analysis

Literary studies and sentiment analysis

Conclusion

4. Thematic criticism and topic modelling

Thematic criticism

Topic modeling

Computational thematic criticism

Conclusion

5. Mapping literature

Literary studies in the wake of the “spatial turn”

The GIS technology

GIS in literary studies

Conclusion

6. Networking characters

Characters in literary studies

Social network analysis

Social networks and character studies

Conclusion

7. Intertextuality and text reuse detection

Intertextuality in literary studies

Text reuse detection and semantic similarity

Towards quantitative intertextuality

Conclusion

8. Artificial Intelligence and the challenge of interpretation

Hermeneutics and literary studies

Machine learning and (generative) artificial intelligence

Interpretation in computational literary studies

Conclusion

9. Conclusion. On modeling and interdisciplinarity

Index

Über Autor(innen)

Simone Rebora is Associate Professor of Comparative Literature at the University of Verona, Italy, with an interest in empirical and computational literary studies.