Nuns and reading : How eight nuns benefit from reading and how the convent culture impacts their reading.

The aim of this Master’s thesis is to examine how nuns regard reading. The reading of the Bible is a regular element in their everyday life. This study however, focuses mainly on the nuns’ self-chosen reading beyond the reading of the Bible. We explore the benefit they gain from reading and if life in convent influences their reading. Qualitative interviews were used and eight nuns, between 46-79 years of age, at four different convents, were interviewed. The analysis is based on two theories. First, we use Sten Furhammar’s model, which includes four functions of reading. The second theory, a model presented by Björn Viktröm, focuses on the understanding of a text. The model includes three stages of interpretation. The result shows that nuns reading habits are influenced by the culture of the convent. A central motive for their reading is spiritual growth. They keep contact with their cultural roots and the reading of hagiographies (biographies of saints) seems to strengthen their identity as nuns. We also found that the nuns have developed an interpretative way of reading. Through history, the Bible has been the object for interpretation. The nuns’ reading of the Bible, seems to influence their reading of other forms of literature. When speaking of literature and reading, they use concepts that indicate an experience in analysing texts. In other areas their reading habits are similar to that of people in general. They read the news and seem anxious to stay informed of issues of society. All informants read detective novels for relaxation. A general impression, however, is that the nuns are particular in their reading. They demand quality when it comes to language, characteristics and literature in general.Uppsatsnivå: