SÄRSKILD PRÖVNING ENGELSKA C

(litterär inriktning)


Written Part


Project Work

Write a 800-word essay in which you discuss and problematize round any topic you deem appropriate. Be prepared to discuss your essay with the examiner.


Oral Part

Society

Newspaper articles

Read five newspaper articles from different sources. They should be fairly long, not shorter than 500 words, and should deal with current issues from the English speaking-world. Your discussion of these articles should display your knowledge of social structure, politics and culture concerning the countries mentioned in the articles.

It is essential that you master the vocabulary in these articles. Bring them to the examination.


Literature

You should read two novels. You may choose one of these freely. The second novel should be decided together with your examiner. (See list) In connection with the novels you should also know a few things about the authors and be able to put them in a literary context.

Song Lyrics

Choose five songs and analyse the lyrics. Make your selection as varied as possible.







READING LIST FOR SÄRSKILD PRÖVNING COURSE C INSTRUCTIONS FOR BOOK ANALYSIS

As part of this course you are going to read two books. The first book will be a book of your own choice. The second book will be either a) a pre World War II book or b) a book by one of the authors listed below, or c) any other book that the examiner approves of.

I will be fairly hard and probably not approve of books that you may read anyway. Now is the time to make new literary acquaintances!

One of the best ways of enhancing your knowledge of a language is to read. This fact is not merely applicable to your native tongue, but also to foreign languages. When reading a book you increase both your passive and active vocabulary. It is obviously not advisable to look up every single word that you do not understand, unless, of course, you have plenty of time. However, it is a good idea that you concentrate on a section, perhaps the first 20-40 pages of the book and actually look up every word and expression that you do not fully master. Do not restrict yourself to looking up words that you have never seen before, but also look up words that you recognize but are uncertain of. Reading a book is obviously not only about learning new words. You are primarily supposed to sharpen your faculties of literary analysis. Here are five things I want you to consider carefully when you read and when you discuss and write about the book.

  1. Briefly summarize the plot of the novel.
  2. Describe the main characters. What kind of people are they? Use examples from the text to support your opinions.
  3. What is the main conflict of the novel? How is it resolved? Are there any sub-plots?
  4. What do you think the author's purpose was in writing the novel?
  5. Comment on the author's writing style and point of view. Did you like it? Why or why not? Give examples. And finally: What is your evaluation of the novel?

The oral presentations of your books are expected to be free and in your own words. If you wish you may bring a few notes, but that is all.

Do not forget to bring a copy of a good extract from the novel. You are suppised ti make a close reading of that extract together with your group. Pick a section that you find particularly interesting, a section you particularly like.

Here are som suggested pre World War II authors: Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, Emily Bronte, Charles Dickens, E.M. Forster, James Joyce, George Orwell, Lewis Carroll, Thomas Hardy, Edgar Allan Poe, Edith Wharton and Virginia Woolf.

Here are some suggested modern and contemporary authors: Margaret Atwood, Paul Auster, Saul Bellow, Aidan Chambers, Roddy Doyle, John Fowles, Nadine Gordimer, Graham Greene, Doris Lessing, Arthur Miller, Toni Morrison, Joyce Carol Oates, Jayne Anne Phillips, Sylvia Plath, Salman Rushdie, J.D. Salinger, John Steinbeck, Alice Walker and Fay Weldon.

PLEASANT READING!