Reading Skill Focus: Understanding Contemporary Literary Prose (B2 Level)

At B2 level, you can begin to read and understand contemporary literary prose (novels, short stories written in relatively standard, modern Dutch) with a reasonable degree of independence. This means grasping the plot, understanding characters' motivations and feelings, and appreciating some aspects of the writer's style, though you may need a dictionary for less common vocabulary or complex expressions.

Key Abilities for B2 Literary Reading:

1. Following the Plot and Storyline:

• Understanding the main sequence of events.
• Identifying key turning points or developments in the narrative.

1. Understanding Characters:

• Identifying the main characters and their relationships.
• Understanding characters' feelings, motivations, and perspectives, often through interpreting their actions, thoughts, and dialogue.
• Recognizing changes or development in characters throughout the story.

1. Grasping Themes and Main Ideas:

• Identifying the main themes or messages the author might be exploring (e.g., love, loss, social issues, identity).
• Understanding the overall significance of the story or events.

1. Dealing with Literary Language:

• Understanding descriptive language used to create atmosphere or depict scenes and characters.
• Recognizing and interpreting common figurative language (similes, metaphors) used for effect.
• Coping with slightly more complex sentence structures than found in factual texts.
• Inferring the meaning of unfamiliar words from context, though dictionary use is still expected and necessary.

1. Recognizing Narrative Style (Basic):

• Identifying the narrative perspective (e.g., first person 'I', third person 'he/she').
• Noticing aspects of the author's style (e.g., use of dialogue, descriptive passages, pacing).

Limitations at B2:

• May struggle with highly experimental or stylistically complex prose.
• Understanding deep symbolism or subtle literary allusions might be challenging.
• Older literature with archaic language or very different cultural contexts will likely be difficult.
• Reading speed will generally be slower than a native speaker, and reliance on a dictionary is normal.

Importance for B2:

• Opens up a vast world of culture, stories, and perspectives.
• Significantly expands vocabulary, especially descriptive and nuanced language.
• Improves overall reading fluency and comprehension skills.
• Provides insight into Dutch culture, history, and ways of thinking.

Learning Strategy:

• Start with Accessible Literature: Choose contemporary novels or short stories known for relatively clear prose. Graded readers (vereenvoudigde literatuur) can be a good starting point.
• Read What Interests You: Choose genres or topics you enjoy to stay motivated.
• Don't Look Up Every Word: Try to infer meaning from context first. Look up words that seem crucial for understanding or appear frequently.
• Read Actively: Think about the characters, plot, and themes as you read. Ask yourself questions.
• Re-read Passages: If something is unclear, re-reading a paragraph or page can help.
• Join a Book Club: Discussing literature with others (native speakers or fellow learners) deepens understanding.
• Use Literary Resources: Websites or guides discussing Dutch literature can provide context and analysis.