With the help of math and computers, a University of Nebraska English professor has been plotting the basic shapes of novels (spoiler: there are six), but this time in a new way. Instead of focusing on plot as action, Matthew Jockers is tracking the positive or negative charge of words to reveal plot as emotional movement. As Dan Piepenbring points out at the Paris Review blog, this could explain why some otherwise plot-less books can still keep readers engaged.
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