Nome: Computational Literary Criticism. Nascita: 1987. Genitore: John F. Burrows (Ostetrica: Narratologia)

Abstract

The article reconsiders the origins of Computational Literary Criticism (CLC), proposing that its founding act can be traced back to 1987, the year in which John F. Burrows published Word-Patterns and Story-Shapes. Although Franco Moretti's Distant Reading (2000) is traditionally considered the first work in this field, Burrows' contribution is the first conscious proposal to apply computational methods to literary criticism and theory. Furthermore, the narratological approach adopted, based on the distinction between diegesis, mimesis, and free indirect speech, highlights an early theoretical framework that was subsequently neglected. The article reconstructs the context, Burrows' contribution, and the reasons for its lack of reception, proposing a reinterpretation of the genealogy of CLC in light of this pioneering contribution.