George Saunders' Commencement Address

Denne study guide giver dig hjælp til at analysere George Saunders' "Commencement Address" fra 2013. Herunder giver vi dig særlig hjælp til at arbejde med fokuspunkterne fra den skriftlige eksamen på STX Engelsk A d. 2. december 2014:

Write an analytical essay (900-1200 words) in which you analyze and comment on George Saunders' “Commencement Address”.

Part of your essay must focus on the style of Saunders' language and on the values he advocates.

I guiden kan du desuden finde et summary af talen, samt hjælp til kommentering og perspektivering.

Præsentation af dimissionstalen

Titel: “Commencement Address”
Taler: George Saunders
Hvor: Syracuse University i New York.
Hvornår: Den 11. maj 2013, ved dimissionen på The College of Arts and Sciences.

George Saunders (f. 1958) er amerikansk forfatter og professor, ansat på Syracuse University. Han har fået flere priser for sin skønlitteratur igennem årene - i 2017 modtog han fx den prestigefyldte Man Booker Prize for sin roman Lincoln in the Bardo. I sin dimissionstale fra 2013 talte han især om vigtigheden af venlighed.

Du kan se talen her.

Uddrag

Nedenfor kan du se et kort uddrag af vores study guide:

Choice of words

Although George Saunders acts as a formal speaker at The College of Arts and Sciences’ graduation ceremony, his choice of words often reflects a much more informal style.

First, note that Saunders uses several slang words and expressions, such as “old fart” (l. 3), “pooping” (l. 29), “corny” (l. 85), “butts” (l. 162), or “poop” (l. 234). The use of these words and expressions give the speech an informal tone and also draws positive reactions from the members of the audience, who laugh and are evidently amused. Saunders’ word choice may also be connected with the fact that he is addressing a younger audience, who often speak in a less formal style, and he wants his message to feel relatable.