Applying the approach of narrative agency: A dialogue between theory, reading group practices, and analysis of participants' experiences

In: Narrative inquiry: a forum for theoretical, empirical, and methodological work on narrative

Abstract

Abstract
In this article, we discuss a dialogue between narrative theory, reading group practices, and analysis of reading
group participants' experiences. Hanna Meretoja's theory of narrative agency has informed us in developing a new reading group
model that aims to enhance the participants' narrative agency, and, in turn, the analysis of the reading group experiences
provides us with new knowledge on the reading group model, as well as on the theoretical approach. We explore narrative agency
analysis as a tool to analyze interviews, and our analysis of three participants' experiences illustrates how narrative agency can
manifest itself in various forms. It also demonstrates that the enhanced ability to navigate narrative environments can be highly
meaningful on a personal level. The article suggests that, despite its challenges, this kind of research approach, combining
theory and practice, enriches and expands the possibilities of literary studies.