Master thesis | Educatie in de Taal en cultuurwetenschappen: Engels (120 EC) (MA)
open access
In the nineteenth century, people belonging to the middle class made use of letter-writing manuals to ensure that their language use adhered to the expected social norms and to portray themselves...Show moreIn the nineteenth century, people belonging to the middle class made use of letter-writing manuals to ensure that their language use adhered to the expected social norms and to portray themselves as respectable. These manuals provide an insight into expected and prescribed language at the time. Some of these letter-writing manuals provide model letters for people of the working class as well, which is interesting as these manuals were typically marketed and advertised for the middle class. Wieman (2021) found that there was a clear gap in social status and social roles between middle-class women and men and that this gap could be traced back in the prescribed language found within the manuals. However, the working-class women and working-class men did not experience this same gap. Though there still was a divide in expected social roles, there are many aspects in which the man was expected to rely on the woman to survive. This thesis will research whether a similar gap in terms of prescribed language can be detected in the prescribed language for members of the Victorian working class.Show less
Master thesis | Educatie in de Taal en cultuurwetenschappen: Engels (120 EC) (MA)
open access
This paper examines representations of trauma in Young Adult literature, mainly the so-called “problem novel”. These types of novels are becoming increasingly popular among youngsters. Though...Show moreThis paper examines representations of trauma in Young Adult literature, mainly the so-called “problem novel”. These types of novels are becoming increasingly popular among youngsters. Though teenagers enjoy them, parents frequently express their concerns about the age-appropriateness of the content and subject matter. By analysing the novels The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, and A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, this study illustrates that these novels try to resemble trauma by means of stylistic features. These features include absence, repetition, indirection, and belatedness. The authors not only chose to incorporate these into their narratives, but also in their choice of lay-out, which allows for an increased immersion and engagement of the reader with the text.Show less
