6 - Anglo-Saxon Perspectives on Autobiographical Memory and the Self

Summary

The cognitive approaches outlined in the foregoing chapters all have their own field-specific bases, alignments with particular professional associations, key scholarly figures and characteristic modes of inquiry. They all have something to offer the Anglo-Saxonist, both in terms of specific modes of textual engagement and lines of inquiry, but also in promoting and expanding the cognitive turn in Literary Studies generally through combination. Beyond their emerging disciplinary developments and distinctive ways of doing the business of interpretation, their chief value is in foregrounding the complexity and interrelatedness of the functioning of the evolved human brain and its cultural context. This dynamic relationship is in play in all cognitive approaches, but sits at the core of Cognitive Cultural Studies, which is why this particular field seems to be the most attractive and productive for Anglo-Saxon Studies.

But Cognitive Cultural Studies has yet to develop fully the range and potential of the fruitful embrace of Cognitive Science and Literary/Cultural Studies – which itself is not surprising, given the huge and voracious scope of the former. So, there is a considerable amount of inquiry and exploration left to be done, a task to which the Anglo-Saxonist can contribute, not only for the sake of the vigour and prosperity of field itself, but also to ensure that the cognitive turn takes cognisance of the full diachronic sweep of Literary Studies and engages with historical depth right back to the earliest forms of English.