The purpose of the following study is to examine how reading is influenced by the use of easy-to-read adaptations of literary classics compared to the original works in an educational context. The novels forming the basis of the analysis are Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre (1847) and the adaptation written by Malin Lindroth, as well as Hjalmar Söderberg's Doktor Glas (1905) and the adaptation written by Tomas Dömstedt. In our study, we focus on how complex motifs and themes transition from the original works to the adaptations. The motifs that emerge in Jane Eyre are class affiliation, violence, gender oppression and religious oppression, which together constitute the overarching theme of female emancipation. The motifs that emerge in Doktor Glas are superhuman ideal, desire and disgust and doubt which together constitute the theme of moral guilt. Using an adaptation theoretical perspective based on Linda Hutcheon's and Brian McFarlane's respective theory descriptions, and a comparative method, we analyze how the motifs and themes transfer. The results show that class affiliation, violence, and gender oppression in Jane Eyre and superhuman ideal and some aspects of desire and disgust in Doktor Glas are transferred while maintaining fidelity to the essence. Furthermore, the results of the study show that there are opportunities to use the easy-to-read fiction for a didactic purpose, but that the easy-to-read literature must be supplemented with parts from the original work in some cases.

In the current landscape of Sweden, easy-to-read literature demand is surging. But the opinions of its shape and form are being questioned: is this type of literature in reality easier to understand, or is the removed content in fact making it less comprehensive? The study’s purpose is to analyze easy-to-read literature’s ability to manage complex motives, and if it changes the reading experience from the original. To attempt that, the study uses a comparative analysis of Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Crime and punishment and its easy-to-read adaptation, written by Johan Werkmäster. To understand how Werkmäster’s adaptation manages complex motives, the comparative analysis uses three motives from Professor George Strem, who argues that Crime and punishment is built on suffering, humility and the ideal of the Superman. To answer whether the easy-to-read version changes the reading experience or not, the study uses Professor Rita Felski’s terminology of chock and Anna Nordenstam and Christina Olin-Scheller’s identification.   The analysis shows that the easy-to-read version of Crime and punishment maintains the main story but excludes the ideal of the Superman, which alters the understanding of suffering and humility. As a consequence this also means Felski’s chock is replaced by Nordenstam and Olin-Scheller’s identification, showing that the reading experience is indeed changed.    The conclusion is that the changes in the adaptation cause problems regarding the reader’s ability to understand Raskolnikov. The result also leads to question what the most important factor is when reading easy-to-read literature. Whereas the authors and publishers argue that literacy and motivation is essential to the target audience, Felski and Nordenstam and Olin-Scheller claim that the reading experience is more important. This shows the need of more science in this area to create a consensus of what easy-to-read literature should be, and how it best helps the readers develop their reading ability.

Denna uppsats undersöker relationen mellan lättlästa skönlitterära böcker och originalutgåvor genom en närstudie av John Ajvide Lindqvists Låt den rätte komma in och den lättlästa versionen Vampyren i Blackeberg. Syftet med denna uppsats är att undersöka vad som skiljer sig i handlingen och vilka litterära aspekter som försvinner i en bearbetad lättläst text. Analysen fokuserar därför på olika aspekter av litterära föreställningsvärldar för att få svar på vad som förhåller sig annorlunda eller likartat. De forskningsfrågor som besvaras är: På vilket sätt skiljer sig informationen i John Ajvide Lindqvists lättlästa verk Vampyren i Blackeberg från originalutgåvan Låt den rätte komma in? Och vilken typ av information försvinner i det lättlästa verket i jämförelse med originalutgåvan? Resultatet visar att det förekommer markanta skillnader gällande typ och omfattning i den lättlästa bearbetningen. Stoff som försvunnit är bland annat miljöbeskrivningar, fokalisation och nedskärningar i dialoger för att göra dessa korta och koncisa med så få utläggningar som möjligt. Därtill visar diskussionen att lättläst litteratur inte bör användas som läromedel, då denna texttyp inte kan svara på Skolverkets kriterier när det kommer till svenskämnet. Lättläst litteratur kan aldrig ersätta originalutgåvor, eftersom bearbetningar reducerar bort vital information som gör att läsarens förståelse för handlingen försämras. / This essay analyzes the relationship between easy-to-read fiction and the original edition through a close study of John Ajvide Lindqvist’s Låt den rätte komma in and the easy-to-read version Vampyren i Blackeberg. The purpose of this essay is to examine what differs in the plot and which literary aspects that disappear in an edited easy-to-read text. The analysis therefore focuses on different aspects of literary imaginary worlds to get answers for what looks different or similar. The research questions this study aims to answer are: In what way does the information in John Ajvide Lindqvist’s easy-to-read version Vampyren i Blackeberg differ from the original edition Låt den rätte komma in? And what kind of information disappears in the easy-to-read version compared to the original version? The results show that there are significant differences in the type and to what extent of the easy-to-read version. Things that have disappeared are environmental descriptions, focalisation and information in dialogues to make these short and concise, with as few explanations as possible. The discussion shows that easy-to-read literature should not be used as a teaching aid, as this type of text cannot meet the curriculum criteria when it comes to the Swedish subject. Easy-to-read literature can never replace original editions, as the easy-to-read texts reduce vital information that weaken the reader's understanding of the plot.