ABSTRACT

This chapter addresses the nature of the representation of reference in narratives, using the constructionist notion of mental models. The main assumption of the mental models approach is that readers build representations of situations referred to by narrative (the objects, characters, events, and processes described), in addition to representations of the text itself (Bower & Morrow, 1990; Garnham, 1987; Glenberg, Meyer and Lindem, 1987; Mani & Johnson-Laird, 1982; Sanford & Garrod, 1981). The representation of a situation has some functional consequences that can be empirically explored. For instance, situation models govern the selective activation foregrounding of some pieces of information in working memory, guide readers' inferences, and contribute to building the coherence of the text.