VOA慢速：关于人生“基本选择”的挪威作品获得诺贝尔文学奖
Norwegian Writing about Life’s ‘Basic Choices’ Wins Nobel in Literature
刘立军 供稿
TRANSCRIPT
The Swedish Academy awarded this year’s Nobel Prize in Literature to a Norwegian known for considering life’s “basic choices” in his 40 years of work.
Sixty-four-year-old Jon Fosse was first published in the 1980s and became well known in the 1990s. His works include a play called Someone Is Going to Come which was performed to praise in Paris in 1999. Later, he wrote a series of books called the Septology, which he finished in 2021. The last part of Septology, called A New Name, was a finalist for the Booker Prize in 2022.
Fosse created plays, books and children’s books. He also worked on a translation of the Bible into Norwegian. He is known for writing in the Nynorsk language, which is understandable to all Norwegians. But it is used by only 10 percent of the nation’s 5.4 million people.
Swedish Academy member Anders Olsson said Fosse’s work has had a “universal impact.” The Academy also called his work “innovative” and noted his ability to “give voice to the unsayable.” The group explained that his books discuss life’s “deepest feelings” about things like life and death.
Fosse said he had been thinking he might be awarded the prize for the last 10 years, but he was still surprised to get the phone call on Thursday.
He told a Swedish broadcaster: “I’ve been part of the discussion for 10 years and have prepared myself for 10 years that it could happen.”
He told a Norwegian broadcaster he has no more prizes left to win. “Everything will be downhill from now on.” He noted that he started writing as a boy and his first work came out 40 years ago. “I don’t plan to compete with myself,” he said. The writer added he will celebrate the prize “calmly” with his family.
Fosse said 1969 Nobel literature prize-winner Samuel Beckett of Ireland influenced his writing style. Beckett wrote the play Waiting for Godot.
Guy Puzey is a teacher of Scandinavian studies at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. He called Fosse’s writing “sparse” and said his “simple expressions take on a lot deeper meaning.”
The Associated Press notes critics might call Fosse a “safe” choice for his “highbrow” writing only known to people in “small literary circles.”
The Academy has been criticized for being too centered on men from Northern Europe and North America. That includes criticism from Annie Ernaux, last year’s winner. Only 17 of 119 winners have been women.
Recent winners who have been popular writers include Mario Vargas Llosa of Peru, Kazuo Ishiguro of Japan, and Alice Munro of Canada. The Academy got a lot of attention for choosing American musician Bob Dylan in 2016.
Supporters say recent winners, including Dylan, show that the Nobel committee is interested in writers who are both popular and praised by critics.
Fosse’s publisher says his work has been translated into 40 languages and his plays have been produced over 1,000 times. And he is the fourth Norwegian to win the prize but the first since 1928.
Fosse will receive a gold medal and about $1 million at the Nobel prize award ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden, on December 10.
I’m Dan Friedell.
VOCABULARY
1. downhill adv. in a decline or worsening state; getting easier or less challenging走下坡路的，逐渐恶化的；变得容易或不再具有挑战性的
2. sparse adj. (of writing) using few words, often avoiding unnecessary details or embellishments 简单朴素的；微言大义的
3. highbrow adj. used to describe something that is considered intellectual, sophisticated, or elitist知识分子的，高雅的
QUESTIONS
Listen to the news and choose the best answer to each question you hear.
1. Who was awarded this year’s Nobel Prize in Literature?
A. Samuel Beckett.
B. Jon Fosse.
C. Guy Puzey.
D. Anders Olsson.
2. What genre of literature is Jon Fosse known for?
A. Novels.
B. Plays.
C. Children’s books.
D. All of the above.
3. What language is Fosse known for writing in?
A. English.
B. Swedish.
C. Norwegian.
D. Nynorsk.
4. According to the text, how did the Swedish Academy describe Fosse’s work?
A. Innovative with universal impact.
B. Safe and highbrow.
C. Sparse but deeply meaningful.
D. Popular among small literary circles.
5. Who influenced Fosse’s writing style?
A. Bob Dylan.
B. Samuel Beckett.
C. Mario Vargas Llosa.
D. Kazuo Ishiguro.
6. How might Jon Fosse feel about winning more prizes in the future?
A. He believes he has no more prizes left to win.
B. He is looking forward to winning more awards.
C. He feels pressured to continue producing award-winning work.
D. He plans to retire from writing.
7. What has the Swedish Academy been criticized for in the past?
A. Awarding too many musicians like Bob Dylan.
B. Being too centered on men from Northern Europe and North America.
C. Only selecting authors who write in Nynorsk.
D. Not acknowledging the work of popular writers.
8. How might critics see the selection of Jon Fosse as this year’s laureate?
A. As a risky choice.
B. As a controversial decision.
C. As an expected nomination.
D. As a safe choice.
9. How can we infer Fosse’s works are received internationally based on his publisher’s comments?
A. They have not been translated into many languages.
B. They are universally appreciated.
C. They are popular only in Norway.
D. They are largely unknown outside of Norway.
10. What is one of the prizes that Fosse’s works were nominated for?
A. The Nobel Prize in Literature.
B. The Booker Prize.
C. The Pulitzer Prize.
D. The Hugo Award.
KEY
1. Who was awarded this year’s Nobel Prize in Literature?
A. Samuel Beckett.
B. Jon Fosse.
C. Guy Puzey.
D. Anders Olsson.
【答案】B
【解析】细节题。出自文章第一句：The Swedish Academy awarded this year’s Nobel Prize in Literature to a Norwegian known for considering life’s ‘basic choices’ in his 40 years of work. 因此Jon Fosse是今年的诺贝尔文学奖得主。
2. What genre of literature is Jon Fosse known for?
A. Novels.
B. Plays.
C. Children’s books.
D. All of the above.
【答案】D
【解析】细节题。出处：Fosse created plays, books and children’s books. 因此Jon Fosse创作了戏剧、书籍和儿童读物。
3. What language is Fosse known for writing in?
A. English.
B. Swedish.
C. Norwegian.
D. Nynorsk.
【答案】D
【解析】细节题。文章中提到：He is known for writing in the Nynorsk language. 因此Jon Fosse以写尼诺斯克语（Nynorsk，指以口语为基础的挪威书面语）著名。
4. According to the text, how did the Swedish Academy describe Fosse’s work?
A. Innovative with universal impact.
B. Safe and highbrow.
C. Sparse but deeply meaningful.
D. Popular among small literary circles.
【答案】A
【解析】细节题。根据文章，瑞典学院称Fosse的作品具有“全球影响力”和“创新性”。
5. Who influenced Fosse’s writing style?
A. Bob Dylan.
B. Samuel Beckett.
C. Mario Vargas Llosa.
D. Kazuo Ishiguro.
【答案】B
【解析】细节题。文章中提到：Fosse said 1969 Nobel literature prize-winner Samuel Beckett of Ireland influenced his writing style. 因此Fosse的写作风格受到了Samuel Beckett的影响。
6. How might Jon Fosse feel about winning more prizes in the future?
A. He believes he has no more prizes left to win.
B. He is looking forward to winning more awards.
C. He feels pressured to continue producing award-winning work.
D. He plans to retire from writing.
【答案】A
【解析】推理题。在文章中提到：Fosse told a Norwegian broadcaster he has no more prizes left to win. 可以推断Jon Fosse认为他没有更多的奖项可以赢了。
7. What has the Swedish Academy been criticized for in the past?
A. Awarding too many musicians like Bob Dylan.
B. Being too centered on men from Northern Europe and North America.
C. Only selecting authors who write in Nynorsk.
D. Not acknowledging the work of popular writers.
【答案】B
【解析】细节题。文章提到：The Academy has been criticized for being too centered on men from Northern Europe and North America. 瑞典学院曾被批评过于偏向北欧和北美的男性作家。
8. How might critics see the selection of Jon Fosse as this year’s laureate?
A. As a risky choice.
B. As a controversial decision.
C. As an expected nomination.
D. As a safe choice.
【答案】D
【解析】推理题。根据文中信息：The Associated Press notes critics might call Fosse a ‘safe’ choice for his ‘highbrow’ writing only known to people in ‘small literary circles. 可以推断，评论家可能会把选择Fosse作为今年的诺贝尔文学奖得主视为一个安全的选择。
9. How can we infer Fosse’s works are received internationally based on his publisher’s comments?
A. They have not been translated into many languages.
B. They are universally appreciated.
C. They are popular only in Norway.
D. They are largely unknown outside of Norway.
【答案】B
【解析】推理题。出版商说：Fosse’s work has been translated into 40 languages and his plays have been produced over 1,000 times. 这表明他的作品在全球范围内都受到了欢迎。
10. What is one of the prizes that Fosse’s works were nominated for?
A. The Nobel Prize in Literature.
B. The Booker Prize.
C. The Pulitzer Prize.
D. The Hugo Award.
【答案】B
【解析】细节题。文章中提到：The last part of Septology, called A New Name, was a finalist for the Booker Prize in 2022. 因此A New Name是布克奖（Booker Prize）的决赛作品之一。
（封面图片来源于摄图网，版权归摄图网所有）