Young people today are often faced with a myriad of expectations from various sources—family, school, friends, sports teams, and even society at large.
Faglig kvalitetssikret av lærere og toppstudenter · Følger læreplanen (LK20) · Sist oppdatert 2026-10-02
This guide provides a deep analysis of how to write an essay on the a, exploring the topic through literary examples and providing concrete strategies to elevate your response from a simple summary to a high-level analysis.
Task 4B on the English exam is frequently a long-form essay that requires you to connect a broad societal theme to one or more literary or cultural works. The task about expectations and demands is a classic example. It tests your ability to do three things simultaneously: understand a social issue (pressure on youth), perform literary analysis (using textual evidence), and construct a coherent, reflective argument. Examiners use this format to differentiate between students who can only describe a story and those who can use a story as a lens to analyse a complex human experience. Your ability to move seamlessly between general reflection and specific textual analysis is a key indicator of a sophisticated response.
Mastering the vocabulary of literary and thematic analysis is crucial. Using these terms accurately shows the examiner you have control over the subject matter.
| Term | Definition | Example in the Context of Expectations |
|---|---|---|
| Expectation | A strong belief that something will happen or be the case in the future; a belief that someone should achieve something. | A parent's expectation that their child will become a doctor; a society's expectation that young men or women should behave in certain ways. |
| Internal Conflict | A psychological struggle within the mind of a literary character, where the character grapples with opposing desires, beliefs, or needs. | A character wants to pursue a career in music (personal desire) but feels obligated to study law to meet family expectations (external pressure causing internal turmoil). |
| External Conflict | A struggle between a literary character and an outside force, such as another character, society as a whole, or nature. | A student argues with a teacher who expects them to achieve higher grades than they are capable of, leading to confrontation. |
| Theme | The central topic, subject, or message within a narrative. Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a work. | A central theme in The Hunger Games is the struggle to maintain one's identity against oppressive societal expectations. You can read more about Peeta Mellark's struggle to preserve his personal identity in our detailed analysis. |
| Bildungsroman | A literary genre that focuses on the psychological and moral growth of the protagonist from youth to adulthood. Also known as a "coming-of-age" story. | The Harry Potter series is a classic Bildungsroman, as it charts Harry's journey from an unaware boy to a mature wizard who understands his role in the world, shaped by immense expectations. |
Young people face many expectations: from family and friends, at school and at work, or as a part of sports teams. Keeping up with all these demands can be challenging. Living up to expectations is also a common challenge for many fictional characters.
Write a text exploring expectations and demands young people face. Include references to one or more characters in a story or stories you have worked with. Examples of stories may be a film, series, short story, poem, novel or game.
In your text:
Introduce some typical expectations young people may face.
Explore the challenges of meeting expectations and how young people are affected by them. Refer to examples from your chosen story/stories.
Reflect on how expectations can be both beneficial and damaging.
Young people today are often faced with a myriad of expectations from various sources—family, school, friends, sports teams, and even society at large. These expectations can range from achieving academic success to excelling in extracurricular activities or adhering to specific social norms. While these demands can serve as motivation, they can also create significant pressure and lead to stress.
In the novel The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, the protagonist Holden Caulfield experiences immense pressure from the expectations placed on him by his family and society. Holden's parents want him to succeed academically and conform to societal standards, but he feels alienated and disconnected from these expectations. He struggles with his inability to meet the goals that have been set for him, leading to feelings of inadequacy and frustration. His sense of rebellion and desire to escape from these pressures manifest in his erratic behavior, as he seeks an identity outside the confines of what is expected of him.
Similarly, in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling, Harry is thrust into a world of high expectations. As the "Chosen One," Harry is expected to defeat Lord Voldemort and live up to the legacy of his parents. While these expectations push Harry to rise to the occasion, they also weigh heavily on him, causing him to feel isolated and burdened by the immense responsibility placed on his shoulders. Throughout the series, Harry struggles to balance the need to live up to these expectations with his own desires and the need for personal growth.
The challenge with meeting these expectations lies in the emotional toll they can take. Young people often internalize the pressure to perform, leading to anxiety, self-doubt, and sometimes even depression. In some cases, when the pressure becomes too great, it can lead to burnout or a breakdown in personal relationships. However, expectations can also be beneficial if they encourage growth, discipline, and the development of a strong work ethic. They can provide direction and motivation to push oneself to achieve greater things.
Ultimately, while expectations can help guide young people towards success, they must be balanced with empathy and understanding. It is essential for society, educators, and parents to recognize the impact of these pressures and to foster an environment that supports young people’s emotional well-being while encouraging them to meet their goals in a healthy and sustainable way.
The model answer provides a good overview. To achieve a top grade, you must ground your analysis in specific textual evidence. Let's deepen the analysis of the characters mentioned and add a third one for comparison.
Holden's struggle is not just that he fails to meet expectations, but that he finds them fundamentally inauthentic. His constant critique of the "phony" adult world is his defense mechanism against a system he cannot, or will not, join.
Concrete Example: Consider Holden’s reflection after his history teacher, Spencer, lectures him about his future. Holden thinks, "One of the biggest reasons I left Elkton Hills was because I was surrounded by phonies... I left... because I was sick of everybody asking me if I was going to apply myself."
Deeper Analysis: Here, Salinger's use of colloquial diction ("biggest reasons") and the repeated motif of "phonies" highlights Holden's alienation. The expectation is not just academic ("apply myself"); it is an expectation to participate in a social game Holden believes is rigged and disingenuous. His rebellion is a desperate attempt to protect a sense of authenticity, making him a powerful symbol of adolescent angst against societal pressure.
Harry's case is different. He is crushed by expectations but also empowered by them. The title of "The Chosen One" is both a prophecy and a heavy burden. This duality is central to his character development.
Concrete Example: In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, after learning the full prophecy, Harry feels a surge of anger and isolation. Rowling writes: “He did not want to be a hero; he did not want to be the Chosen One. He just wanted to be a normal sixteen-year-old.”
Deeper Analysis: Rowling uses internal monologue to expose the profound internal conflict within Harry. The repetition of "he did not want to be" emphasizes his rejection of the role imposed upon him. However, this same expectation is what drives him to learn advanced magic and ultimately confront Voldemort. This illustrates the complex, dual nature of expectations: they can be both a crushing weight and a catalyst for extraordinary growth. This is a journey of finding your voice in a world that wants to define you.
Katniss embodies the conflict of multiple, contradictory expectations. She must perform for the Capitol, inspire the districts, protect her family, and navigate her own feelings. She is a pawn in a larger game, and her every move is scrutinized.
Concrete Example: During her first pre-Games interview, her stylist Cinna advises her, "Just be yourself." For Katniss, this is a revolutionary and difficult act. Suzanne Collins writes from Katniss's perspective: "Be myself. Be myself? What is that? I am the girl who hunts to feed her family. Who mockingly salutes the Capitol. Who is prepared to kill to survive." …