Röster och perspektiv i Tove Janssons "Sommarboken" (2025) En stilistisk analys av barnets och den vuxnas fokalisering

Abstract

This study analyzes "Sommarboken" (Jansson, 2025) from a linguistic perspective, focusing on stylistic and linguistic choices. Specifically, it examines how Tove Jansson portrays linguistic differences between children and adults in the novel and how these differences reflect their contrasting worldviews. The study addresses the following questions: How are different forms of focalization constructed in "Sommarboken" (Jansson, 2025), and how do they interact with stylistic features to create child and adult perspectives? What linguistic markers are used to express narrative point of view, and how do these relate to the focalization of the grandmother and Sophia, respectively? How does the narrative perspective shift between characters, and what linguistic means are used to signal these shifts? Moreover, the study employs a linguistic and stylistic framework to analyze how language constructs generational perspectives in "Sommarboken" (Jansson, 1976). The theoretical approach combines stylistics (Cassirer, 2003), narratological concepts such as focalization (Nikolajeva, 1998) and Hellbergs (1984) theory on empathy to explore how the novel shifts perspectives between the child and the grandmother. Key aspects include how grammatical structures, vocabulary, and narrative techniques create distinct voices for the characters. The methodology includes close reading and stylistic analysis. Close reading identifies key stylistic and narratological features, while stylistic analysis examines linguistic markers and evaluative language that differentiate the characters’ perspectives. Hellberg’s (1984) theory of empathy and Rimmon-Kenan (2002) theory of indirect speech is applied to investigate how linguistic markers contribute to perspective shifts. Previous research on Jansson has primarily focused on literary and biographical aspects, with limited attention to linguistic style. This study addresses this gap by providing a stylistic analysis of "Sommarboken" (Jansson, 2025), demonstrating how Jansson’s linguistic choices contribute to the novel’s depiction of childhood and adulthood. The study shows that Jansson uses different stylistic markers to differentiate the voices and perspectives of Sophia and her grandmother. Sophia’s focalization is characterized by affective, sensory and spontaneous language while the grandmother’s voice is marked by reflective and modal expressions. The perspective shifts are subtle and shown through free indirect discourse and deixis which allows the narrative to alternate seamlessly between the characters. The findings conclude that these stylistic choices effectively construct generational perspectives, revealing how language shapes a character’s voice and perspective. The study offers insights into how a study of linguistic features can create depth in literary analyses, contributing to a deeper understanding of how language constructs perspective and character voice in literature This is particularly relevant for Swedish language education by highlighting how linguistic features shape readers’ interpretations of different viewpoints.