Vad händer med läsningen när texten blir lättläst? : En jämförande analys av romanen Doktor Glas och dess lättlästa adaption

Sammanfattning

The aim of this essay is to deepen the understanding of which modes of reading a simplified adaptation enables in relation to a classic novel. To fulfil this aim, the novel Doctor Glas will be compared with its simplified adaptation to examine the changes made in the adaptation. Teaching materials designed for use in education are available for both works, and these will also be compared to determine the kinds of reading practices they encourage. The analysis demonstrates that the simplified adaptation has been altered in several ways. The language has been simplified, the historical context has been reduced, and the characterization of the protagonist may be regarded as more superficial. The narrative form itself, however, remains largely unchanged, although the analysis shows that the distinctive narrative style disappears in the simplified adaptation. What particularly distinguishes the adaptation from the original novel is the extent to which modes of reading related to meaning, history, and form can be identified and encouraged. Furthermore, the analysis of the teaching materials shows that the materials accompanying the simplified adaptation promote fewer modes of reading than those associated with the original novel. The ability to combine multiple modes of reading is important for establishing a broadened and deepened understanding of literature. The adaptation risks directing the reader towards a superficial understanding and subjective experience of literature, rather than fostering deeper comprehension and providing the aesthetic experience that literary fiction is often capable of offering.