Corpus linguistics in literary analysis: bridging narratology and stylistics through bridging narratology and stylistics through data-driven insights

This chapter explores the application of corpus linguistics to narratology and stylistics, two pivotal areas in the analysis of literary texts. It bridges traditional literary approaches with computational tools, demonstrating how corpora can enhance our understanding of narrative structures, characterisation, point of view, and stylistic features. The chapter begins with an introduction to narratology and stylistics, outlining their key concepts and frameworks. It then provides an overview of corpus linguistics, explaining core methodologies and tools such as concordance analysis, collocation studies, and keyword analysis. Through case studies, the chapter high-lights how corpora can uncover patterns in narrative construction and stylistic choices, offering new insights that are difficult to achieve through close reading alone. Pedagogical implications are also discussed, suggesting ways to integrate corpus analysis into teaching narratology and stylistics. The chapter concludes by considering the challenges and opportunities of corpus-based approaches, encouraging readers to explore their potential within the broader context of literary analysis.