Naturalizing the unnatural: A view from blending theory

Abstract In Towards a ‘Natural’ Narratology (Fludernik, Routledge, 1996), I presented the process of naturalization as a strategy of converting not-naturally-occurring storytelling scenarios into familiarized models of narration. In order to map this process, this paper resorts to the most recent version of blending theory (conceptual integration networks) as proposed by Mark Turner and Gilles Fauconnier. The analysis will be prefaced by a few framing remarks on the cognitive approach in the study of narrative and will conclude with an outlook on further possible applications of blending theory.