Reading as a Literary Coping Strategy?

Three Comparative Analyses (Jane Austen’s Persuasion, Stefan Zweig’s Chess Story, Haruki Murakami’s Sleep)

Abstract

In recent times, especially in connection with multiple crises, reading as a coping strategy seems to have gained importance. Firstly, this article introduces the theoretical concepts of ‘Lebenswissen’ in literature (Ette) and ‘eudaimonia’ (Moores/Nünning and Nünning). Like in bibliotherapy, these concepts suppose that literature contains ‘knowledge of/for life’ and that the reception of literature can have positive effects on readers. Secondly, three prose texts from different times and cultural settings are analysed in respect to how they depict ‘literature within literature’, that is, fictional reading acts and their effects: Jane Austen’s Persuasion (1817), Stefan Zweig’s Schachnovelle (The Royal Game, 1942) and Murakami Haruki’s Nemuri (Sleep, 1989). In the three texts, a diversity of literature is read, ranging from solitary reading to vivid discussions and from poetry to a chess book. No unequivocal effects can be identified concerning results and effects, but they are rather ambiguous, possibly inviting readers to deeper reflections.