Narrative criticism: a systematic approach to the analysis of story

Abstract

Research reveals that writing about one's experiences offers an individual the opportunity to improve function, develop insight, and foster growth. Storytelling and story writing are pedagogical tools used frequently in practice professions. It is reasonable to see these writings as a rich source for research. They are vehicles for understanding human experience and aesthetic knowing. This article presents an innovation in the method used for analysis of stories. It is a blending of two established methods, those of narrative analysis as described by Riessman (1993), and aesthetic criticism by Chinn, Maeve, and Bostick (1997). The merging of both methods, termed narrative criticism, allows for a rich level of insight into unique human experiences.