Exemplarist Narrative Analysis

This chapter details the study&s;s qualitative design and its central methodology, anchored in Exemplarist Narrative Analysis (ENA). Combining narratology, thematic analysis, and Zagzebski&s;s theory of moral exemplarism, ENA interprets stories through how exemplars shape meaning across life&s;s cosmic, self, and moral dimensions. The chapter describes three research phases—story-completion, online feedback, and a participatory-research workshop—emphasizing transparency, reflexivity, and collaboration. ENA thus provides both the interpretive framework for Gen Z&s;s stories and a transferable qualitative method for studying exemplars in religious and spiritual life.